Shocking Murder of Young Political Worker Sparks Outrage in Haryana

The discovery of a young woman's body hidden in a suitcase near a bus stand in Haryana has triggered widespread shock and outrage. Police identified the victim as 23-year-old Himani Narwal and quickly arrested a suspect two days after the crime came to light on March 1. Narwal was found along the Rohtak-Delhi highway, and the arrest was confirmed by police, who continue to investigate the matter thoroughly.

The suspect, named only as Sachin, reportedly confessed during interrogation after being detained in Delhi. According to senior police officer Krishna Kumar Rao, Sachin had known Narwal for over a year. Rao revealed during a news conference that Sachin, who is married and has two children, visited Narwal at her residence on February 27 and spent the night there.

The following day, a heated argument between the two escalated drastically, resulting in Sachin tying Narwal up and strangling her with a charging cable from a mobile phone. He then removed her jewellery, placed her body in a suitcase belonging to Narwal's family, and disposed of it using public transportation. Police noted that scratches and bite marks on Sachin's hands were evidence of a fierce struggle from Narwal, who apparently fought back during the attack.

Investigators are exploring multiple angles for motive, including claims that Sachin accused Narwal of blackmail. Authorities discovered a pawnshop receipt with the suspect, suggesting he may have pawned jewellery stolen from Narwal. Police also seized Narwal's mobile phone, which was in Sachin's possession when he was arrested.

Narwal, a law student, had made her mark as a politically active participant in opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo campaign and was known as a dedicated Congress party worker. Her mother, Savita Rani, voiced suspicion of foul play linked to her daughter's rising prominence within the political party, suggesting jealousy inside or outside the Congress could be connected to the crime.

In response, prominent politicians from Haryana expressed their concerns publicly. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from the Congress party emphasized the importance of an impartial investigation, stating that justice must prevail regardless of political affiliations. Haryana minister Anil Vij, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party, found Rani's allegations serious and reassured comprehensive scrutiny of all possible motives. Congress party member Deepender Hooda advocated for swift and severe punishment for the guilty.

Narwal’s family initially refused to perform her last rites, demanding that justice must be served first. Authorities are taking help from forensic experts and cyber investigations and reviewing available CCTV evidence to clarify events surrounding her murder. Meanwhile, the results of Narwal's autopsy, conducted at Rohtak's Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, are still pending.