‘They killed my son, I want justice’: Seelampur teen’s murder sparks protests

Seelampur protests

In a murder that sparked protests and heightened tensions in the area, a 17-year-old boy named Kunal was stabbed to death on Thursday evening by two teenagers in what appears to be a "revenge killing" in Seelampur, northeast Delhi.

Police have identified the suspects, who are currently on the run, and ten teams are conducting raids to apprehend them. A woman named Zikra has been arrested for allegedly abetting the crime and conspiring with the murderers. Police have stated that she and the two suspected killers are believed to be part of the Shoaib-Mastan gang, which is active in the area.

As reported by Times of Inida, investigations revealed that the crime was likely a consequence of a stabbing incident that occurred last November in the same area. One of the suspects, who was 17 at the time, was injured during that altercation and believed Kunal was responsible for it. They were seeking revenge.

Zikra, who had previously been arrested for flaunting weapons on Instagram, allegedly instigated the accused to attack Kunal, according to police reports. On Thursday, the boys cornered Kunal and stabbed him multiple times in a lane just meters away from his home.

The TOI report quoting a senior police officer, said, Kunal succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital. A case has been registered at the Seelampur police station under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police stated that Kunal had stepped out briefly to buy samosas and milk for his family. He had just returned from GTB Hospital, where his grandmother had been admitted for the past ten days.

Sheesh Pal (60), a resident near the location where Kunal was stabbed, recalled, “I heard some boys arguing outside my door. These kinds of brawls are not unusual here. The next thing I saw was a boy soaked in blood trying to walk towards a clinic. I’ve learned not to interfere; you never know when you might become the target.”

Despite heavy bleeding, Kunal managed to stagger towards a doctor, according to a family member. “I was heading to offer prayers when I saw some boys running. I called out to them, but they didn’t stop. Then I saw some children, and when I asked what happened, they said, ‘Chaaku maar diya hai (There has been a stabbing).’ As I rushed ahead, I saw the boy—drenched in blood, stumbling toward the blue door of the clinic, just 10–15 steps away. Even after being stabbed, he had the courage to walk, probably hoping they wouldn’t chase him. He somehow made it to the clinic, but by the time I reached him, he had already bled to death,” recounted Mohsin (35), a local resident.

As per the report, blood stains were still visible, forming a trail stretching several meters to the door of the nearby clinic. Locals indicated that while the lane is typically busy during the day, it becomes quiet and isolated in the evening, making such incidents easier to carry out unnoticed.

“The Zikra and her brothers have been threatening my family and many others in the neighborhood for a long time,” said Kunal’s mother. “They move around in a gang, flaunt their guns, post photos with weapons on social media, and instill fear in everyone. Even children are terrified of them. I know they are the ones who did this to my child. I want justice; my son didn’t deserve to die like this.”

Zikra previously worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba. She was arrested for showcasing weapons in her social media posts, where she has 15,000 followers.