In a chilling case of targeted violence, a 52-year-old woman was shot dead in broad daylight in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh on Saturday. The victim, Rachna Yadav, was the wife of a slain history-sheeter and a key witness in his murder case, which occurred less than three years ago.
A Fatal Pattern Repeats
The killing bore a grim resemblance to the murder of her husband, Bijender Yadav. Police suspect that one of the two bike-borne assailants involved in Rachna's killing was also a suspect in her husband's murder. Bijender Yadav, a property dealer with at least nine criminal cases including murder, was shot dead at close range in May 2023 while sitting outside a bakery in Bhalswa village.
Rachna's elder daughter, Kanika (32), revealed the family had been living under threat. "About one-and-a-half years ago, she was followed and threatened on her way to court, after which she began attending hearings on video," Kanika stated. She expressed shock that such an attack could occur even though some accused in her father's murder are lodged in Tihar Jail.
The Saturday Attack: Point-Blank Execution
According to family members, the tragedy unfolded when Rachna was returning after attending last rites at a neighbour's house. She stopped at a shack near her home to wash her hands and feet. The assailants, who were lying in wait, shot her at point-blank range, killing her on the spot.
Police received a PCR call about the incident around 11 am. An empty cartridge was recovered from the scene, and crime and forensic teams were deployed. CCTV footage from the area reportedly shows a masked man near the murder spot. Authorities are examining footage from cameras installed at the victim's house and the surrounding area to trace the shooter's movements.
Police Investigation and Past Threats
Around a dozen police teams have been formed to nab the accused, with raids being conducted in Haryana and outer Delhi. The main suspect in Rachna's killing is believed to be Bharat Yadav, who is absconding and was also the main accused in the firing at the family's Bhalswa office a few months after Bijender's murder. That earlier shooting was seen as an attempt to intimidate the family.
Local residents noted that a security guard is posted at a gate near the crime scene only at night, as a police post is located nearby. The brazen nature of the attack in a residential area has raised serious concerns about witness protection and the reach of criminal networks.
This double murder case highlights the perilous intersection of personal rivalry, criminal history, and the vulnerabilities faced by witnesses within the justice system. The investigation continues as authorities work to apprehend those responsible for ending two lives in a similarly brutal fashion.
