New Delhi: On Thursday night, Ankit Saxena was near his house in Raghubir Nagar (RG Nagar) in Delhi’s Khyala when he was stabbed and killed by the family members of a Muslim woman he was in love with.
Since Friday, the area has been under heavy security cover over fears of communal tension, with additional forces being deployed on Saturday due to VIP movement. BJP’s Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari paid a visit to the 23-year-old’s house in the evening and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to arrive on Sunday.
The heavy deployment, however, has not stopped the neighbourhood from murmuring how the deceased was everyone’s favourite and the girl mostly kept to herself.
Ankit had been in love with Shahana (name changed) over the last two years, say police. Those in RG Nagar Block B, where Shahana lived, say they had been in a relationship for about 5-6 years.
Earlier, Ankit used to stay in Pocket A and Shahana was his neighbour. She later moved to Pocket B along with her family, just a few metres away. The two, however, continued to talk and love blossomed.
Characterised by his long hair at one time and a jovial nature, Ankit was fondly known as ‘Mowgli’ in the locality. Everyone knew him and everyone loved him. So did Shahana.
A former tuition mate of Shahana from 2-3 years ago said that the two used to meet before she started classes at 5 pm. “He used to come 10 minutes before the class and just meet her. Shahana was dropped to the classes by her younger brother at times, so Ankit would wait for her brother to leave,” the classmate said on condition of anonymity. The younger brother has now been apprehended for Ankit’s murder.
The friend recalls that Shahana hardly spoke to anyone. If her brother did not pick her up from the classes, she would walk back home, which was barely a kilometre away. She spoke very little in class, but was liked by everyone. “She was not like the others. She didn’t mingle much with people, but she was liked by everyone. There were no bad vibes,” the classmate said.
The murder, the classmate said, was shocking and unexpected but those who knew of the relationship were sure that the couple would not have a smooth sail.
Ankit’s family knew about the two and locals say they didn’t have a problem with the relationship. Shahana’s family, however, were vehemently against the relationship.
Shahana’s family knew about her relationship with Ankit. About 6-8 months ago, her brother had an altercation with Ankit at a park in the locality. The argument soon turned into a scuffle and people had to intervene to resolve the matter. Much before that, about a year ago, Shahana’s mother caught hold of Ankit at the local market near Pocket B and is said to have asked him to stay away from her daughter.
Ankit is reported to have handed her a phone to use, which she hid from her family.
Cut to Thursday night: Right before the 23-year-old photographer was murdered by Shahana’s family, the latter kept probing him for Shahana’s whereabouts.
Shahana said she wanted to get married to Ankit and that her family members had killed him. RG Nagar locals say “her family was bad anyway”. Of the over 1,500 families, there are just seven Muslim families in the locality and even among those seven, three of the families are Shahana’s relatives. Talk of extramarital affairs, local boys being framed in false cases often come up.
“There are some Muslims families in the locality who have been staying here for the last 15-10 years and we have been very friendly with them. Things have, however, taken a turn for the worse ever since this family landed here. We are not against any religion, but then what’s wrong is wrong,” said Vandana (name changed), a resident of Pocket B.
On Saturday, beauty parlours run by Shahana’s mother and aunt were asked to be shut. Her aunt is said to have gone back to Gorakhpur along with her family. On Saturday evening, they were escorted out of the locality by security personnel.
The exit was fuelled by the Bajrang Dal. Although not an active member, Ankit was associated with the Bajrang Dal and was a regular at the big rallies that the outfit would organise, including the December 6 annual rally to mark the Babri Masjid demolition.
“We have shut down the beauty parlour,” said Bajrang Dal’s West Delhi chief Jagjit Singh Goldie.
Ankit’s family has, however, been instrumental in making sure that the area is peaceful. WhatsApp messages shared by Ankit’s family members say “Please don’t share this picture”. The photograph is of Ankit’s bloodied body with his throat slit open.
“They don’t want more problems and have been telling us that they don’t need the money or any help. They are making sure that there is no violence because of the death,” said Goldie.
The Bajrang Dal, however, has planned to take out a candle light vigil on Monday evening for Ankit.
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