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Woman gunned down outside home in North Delhi over two years after husband was killed
Husband sought MCD poll ticket, was killed before candidate was finalised
Woman shot dead outside her Shalimar Bagh home in northwest Delhi, police say attack follows husband’s murder case under trial
A 44-year-old woman was shot dead at point-blank range outside her home allegedly by two men in Northwest Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh on Saturday.
The incident comes after her husband was murdered in 2023, said police. The case concerning that murder is currently under trial.
The deceased, Rachna Yadav, was also a member of the resident welfare association of her locality. Police said she was shot in the head and died on the spot.
The incident occurred at 10.59 am, and the masked assailants fled on foot after shooting Rachna, who is originally from Bhalswa village. Police have recovered an empty cartridge at the scene and registered a case of murder.
DCP (Northwest) Bhishma Singh said a PCR call alerted the police to the incident. Police teams rushed to the spot and found Rachna lying on the road in a pool of blood.
Sources said Rachna was returning after meeting a neighbour when the two assailants intercepted her. One of them allegedly stopped her and asked her name.
When she identified herself, the man pulled out a firearm and shot her.
Police said Rachna’s husband Vijendra Yadav – a history-sheeter from Jahangirpuri who was arrested for murder and other crimes – was gunned down on May 22, 2023, while attending a langar near his Bhalswa property office.
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Police had arrested five persons for Vijendra’s murder. However, the main accused, Bharat Yadav, is still at large.
Sources said both Vijendra and Bharat wanted to contest MCD polls in 2022 on a AAP ticket, leading to arguments between them on social media. Vijendra was killed before the tickets were finalised.
Police suspect old grudges fuelled both the murders. “The investigations will focus on identifying the shooter and Bharat’s role,” an officer said.
Rachna lived with her daughter Vrinda, who is pursuing a journalism course. Her elder daughter got married in 2022.
Speaking to mediapersons, Vrinda said that Bharat orchestrated her mother’s killing to silence her. “She was the main witness in my father’s case,” she added.
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She further said that while Bharat had received anticipatory bail from the Delhi High Court, it was later stayed by the Supreme Court.
Following this, Vrinda said, Rachna received repeated death threats, which were reported to the Shalimar Bagh police station and the court.
“If police had acted on the complaints, my mother might still be alive,” Vrinda said.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bhardwaj, questioning the law and order scenario in Delhi, posted on X: “In Shalimar Bagh constituency of CM Rekha Gupta, hardly 400 mtr from her residence, RWA President Rachna Yadav has been shot dead in broad daylight.”
“Imagine the situation of Law & Order in 4 Engine BJP Govt,” he added.
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