On March 1, 2025, the body of 22-year-old Himani Narwal, a dedicated Congress worker, was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase near the Sampla bus stand on the Rohtak-Delhi highway in Haryana. The gruesome find has sent shockwaves through the state, with police suspecting strangulation as the cause of death. Narwal’s hands bore fresh mehndi designs, and a scarf was wrapped around her neck, adding layers of mystery to the case. The Congress party has demanded a high-level probe, with leaders pointing to the deteriorating law and order situation under the BJP-led government.

Himani Narwal was no ordinary party worker. She gained prominence during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, a nationwide march aimed at uniting the country, when she walked alongside the Congress MP, holding his hand in a moment that went viral. Dressed in traditional Haryanvi attire, her image with Gandhi symbolized youthful energy and grassroots dedication. A resident of Kathura village in Sonepat, Narwal served as the Indian Youth Congress vice president for Rohtak Rural and was closely associated with senior leaders like Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Deepender Hooda. Her mother has alleged that jealousy within the party, fueled by her rising stature and proximity to Rahul Gandhi, may have led to her tragic end.

The parallel between her vibrant presence during the Yatra and her grim fate is haunting. Once a symbol of hope and unity beside Rahul Gandhi, Narwal’s life was cut short in a manner that starkly contrasts the Yatra’s message. Congress leaders, including Hooda, have condemned the murder as a “blot” on Haryana’s safety, urging a Special Investigation Team to unravel the truth. As the investigation unfolds, Narwal’s death raises unsettling questions about political rivalries and the price of visibility in India’s charged political landscape.