Woman’s ‘save me’ message to partner preceded her murder

 

By Sumesh Rajan | August 15, 2025

Banaskantha, Gujarat, INDIA: An 18-year-old woman in western India was allegedly murdered by her father and uncle in a suspected “honour killing” just hours after sending a desperate “save me” message to her partner.

Police say the victim, identified as Chandrika Chaudhary, had been in a relationship her family opposed. On the night of June 24, she reportedly messaged her live-in partner, Harish Chaudhary, on Instagram, pleading for him to take her away, warning that her family intended to either force her into marriage or kill her.

Harish, who had recently been released from police custody in an unrelated case, did not see the messages immediately. When he learned of them days later, Chandrika was already dead. Her family claimed she had died of natural causes and cremated her the following morning without informing close relatives — including her brother — and without consulting a doctor, police said.

Authorities allege Chandrika was staying at her uncle’s home in Dantia village when she was given milk laced with sedatives, strangled, and then hanged to make her death appear to be a suicide. By morning, her body had been removed and cremated.

Police suspect the killing was planned in advance, fearing she might again elope with Harish. Weeks earlier, the couple had run away to Ahmedabad, later travelling to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. They had even signed a formal agreement for a live-in relationship. However, they were tracked down by relatives and police, and Chandrika was sent back to her family.

A habeas corpus petition was filed in the Gujarat High Court seeking her production, but the hearing was scheduled for June 27 — three days after her death.

Following a complaint from Harish, police registered a murder case on August 6 against her father, Sedhabhai Patel, and uncle, Shivabhai Patel. Shivabhai has been arrested along with a cousin, Naran Patel, while Sedhabhai remains at large.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Suman Nala said the investigation was based on technical evidence, circumstantial links, and contradictions in family statements. “Even in natural deaths, families typically consult a doctor. In this case, the body was cremated quickly, and close relatives were excluded — all signs pointing to concealment,” Nala noted.

Chandrika had recently cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), India’s highly competitive medical entrance examination. Her future in medicine, however, was cut short in what police describe as a “planned and staged” killing rooted in family opposition to her relationship.