Hathras Police Arrests 29-Year-Old in Army Jawan Honor Killing Case After Brief Encounter
In a significant development in a chilling honor killing case, Hathras police on Monday arrested a 29-year-old man following a brief encounter. The arrest comes days after an Army jawan was shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly over "family honor" disputes.
Background of the Tragic Incident
According to police officials, the accused, identified as Hemant Singh, 29, and his family members harbored deep-seated anger towards the Army jawan, Akhilesh Chaudhary, 27. This resentment stemmed from Chaudhary's marriage to Singh's cousin sister, Nidhi Chaudhary, 24, which took place three years ago. The family perceived this union as bringing dishonor to their reputation in the village.
"They were plotting against Chaudhary to teach him a lesson for bringing dishonour to their family in the village," a police officer revealed. The jawan, who was posted at an Army workshop in Agra and had recently returned to his native village, was tragically killed near a cold storage in the Kotwali Sadabad area on February 5.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Following the murder, Chaudhary's sister, Dolly, filed a police case at Sadabad Kotwali in Hathras against seven named individuals and three unidentified persons. The investigation gained momentum with the support of CCTV footage from nearby areas, which helped police zero in on the family members of the jawan's wife after a district-wide manhunt.
SHO of Kotwali Sadabad, Vijay Singh, stated on Tuesday, "Seven people, including three cousin brothers and two uncles of the Army jawan's wife, were involved in the crime. All of them have been arrested."
The arrests include:
- Maternal uncles Jagbir Singh, 50, and Ramesh Singh, 55, arrested on Tuesday
- Their sons, Vikram Singh and Vishal Singh, along with associate Rahu Kumar (all in their late 20s), nabbed a few days earlier
- Hemant Singh, 29, arrested on Monday after an encounter where he suffered a bullet injury in his leg at Sadabad in Hathras
A police officer privy to the details added, "The jawan belonged to Samadpur village in Hathras. The murder was driven by resentment over the victim's love marriage with Singh's cousin. During his arrest, the accused was carrying illegal pistols and bullets."
Family's Quest for Justice
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Nidhi Chaudhary, the jawan's widow, has been actively seeking justice. She traveled to Lucknow and met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on February 10, bringing along her two-year-old son, Rudra, who is now left without his father.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges of honor-based violence in certain communities, where personal choices in marriage can lead to fatal consequences. The police action demonstrates a concerted effort to address such crimes through swift investigation and apprehension of suspects.
