Man kills sister-in-law, chops niece’s finger after wife elopes

 

By Sagaya Fernando | September 24, 2025

New Delhi, INDIA : A gruesome case of domestic violence unfolded in West Delhi’s Khyala on Tuesday September 23 morning when a 49-year-old man hacked his sister-in-law to death with a cleaver, chopped off his niece’s finger, and injured another relative. The accused, identified as Istekhar Ahmad alias Babbu, suspected that the women had helped his wife elope with another man, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Nusrat (39), who worked as a bouncer. Her daughter Saniya (20) and her elder sister-in-law Akbari (42) sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Cleaver Concealed in a Tiffin Box

According to investigators, Ahmad, a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad and employed as a security guard, arrived at Nusrat’s house in JJ Colony around 7 am. He had allegedly hidden a newly purchased cleaver inside a tiffin box to avoid suspicion.

When Nusrat woke up and offered him tea, he pulled out the weapon and repeatedly struck her on the chest and neck, killing her on the spot. As Saniya rushed to save her mother, the accused chopped off one of her fingers and also hit her on the head. He then attacked Akbari with blows to her neck and head.

A police officer said, “The accused had suspicions that Nusrat and other relatives of his wife were helping her elope. This appears to be the motive behind the attack.”

Family’s Plea for Justice

The crime was witnessed by several family members. Usman (19), who lodged the complaint, told police that Ahmad attacked the women without provocation.

Akbari’s son, Sonu, recounted the horror: "Around 7.14 am, my aunt Nusrat was still resting when she saw Babbu with a tiffin. She thought he was heading to work. She even asked him to sit and eat, unaware of what was about to happen. Suddenly, he pulled out a cleaver and struck her in the waist, chest, and neck. When my cousin Saniya and my mother tried to stop him, he attacked them too."

Sonu demanded justice for his aunt, adding, “His wife ran away because he was treating her badly, but what was our mistake? Nusrat was supporting her four daughters while her husband is in jail. Now who will take care of them?”

Relatives echoed similar anguish. One said, “He is a terrible man. His wife left because of his abusive behaviour, but he punished Nusrat instead. She was innocent.” Nusrat’s brother, Imran, added, “My sister was doing everything to feed her family. She had no role in his marital dispute.”

Police Action

Police said they received a PCR call around 8.05 am reporting a murder in JJ Colony. A team rushed to the spot and found Nusrat lying dead on the second floor of the house. The injured women were shifted to hospital for treatment.

A senior officer confirmed, “The accused was caught red-handed by family members and handed over to the police team. A cleaver and a knife used in the attack were seized. He is now in custody.”

The body was sent for post-mortem examination. Forensic and crime teams inspected the scene for evidence.

Case Registered

Police have registered a case under Section 103(1) (murder) and Section 109(1) (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation into the sequence of events and the accused’s exact motive is underway.