In a horrifying incident from Dabua Colony, Haryana, a 16-year-old Muslim girl, Khushnuma, was brutally murdered by a man who had previously abducted her. On January 18, Pawan allegedly forced his way into her home and stabbed her multiple times, fatally injuring her neck and mouth. The heinous crime is believed to be the culmination of months of harassment, during which Pawan had been pressuring Khushnuma to marry him.
The girl’s family disclosed that Pawan had abducted Khushnuma nearly nine months ago. Following the kidnapping, Khushnuma’s mother lodged a police complaint, leading to Pawan’s arrest and the girl’s recovery in April 2024. However, after being released from jail, Pawan escalated his threats and harassment, creating a climate of fear for the young girl and her family.
“Khushnuma was the eldest of three siblings,” said Abhishek, a local resident familiar with the family’s ordeal. “Pawan had been pressurizing her for marriage for a long time. Despite her repeated refusals and the family’s efforts to protect her, this tragedy unfolded.”
Police spokesperson Yashpal confirmed the sequence of events. “Pawan initially kidnapped Khushnuma in April 2024, luring her with false promises of marriage. Following her recovery and his arrest, legal action was taken. However, after his release, he resumed threatening the girl and her family,” Yashpal stated.
On the day of the murder, police arrived promptly at the scene, took custody of the victim’s body, and sent it for a post-mortem examination at Badshah Khan Civil Hospital. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the accused, who remains at large.