"if I die, my family will be responsible"
A shocking case of honour killing has emerged where an Indian man killed his 20-year-old daughter in front of police.
The horrifying incident in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, unfolded four days before an arranged marriage which Tanu Gurjar opposed.
Tanu expressed her wish to marry her long-time boyfriend, Bhikam “Vicky” Mawai, with whom she had been in a relationship for six years.
In a video, she had accused her family of forcing her to marry someone else.
In the 52-second video, she explicitly named her father and other family members as responsible for her predicament, stating:
“Hello, my name is Tanu Gurjar. My father’s name is Mahesh Gurjar, and my mother’s name is Mamta Gurjar.
“I live in Adarsh Nagar, Gwalior.
“I want to share that I am deeply in love with a boy. We’ve been in a relationship for six years.
“Initially, my family agreed to our marriage but later refused.”
Tanu went on to claim that she is regularly beaten by her family, adding:
“If anything happens to me or if I die, my family will be responsible because they are pressuring me to marry someone else, which I cannot do.”
A tragic incident occurred in #Gwalior, #MadhyaPradesh, where a father shot and killed his 20-year-old daughter, #TanuGurjar, just four days before her wedding. The shocking murder unfolded in front of police officers after Tanu had publicly opposed the marriage arranged by her… pic.twitter.com/6bq4DSCA5n
— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) January 15, 2025
The video triggered a rapid response from the police, led by Superintendent Dharmveer Singh, who arrived at Tanu’s home to mediate.
A community panchayat was also underway to resolve the dispute.
However, Tanu refused to stay with her family and requested to be taken to a One-Stop Centre, which is a government initiative for women facing violence.
Despite her plea, her father insisted on a private conversation, claiming he could get his daughter to comply.
Tragically, the situation escalated. Armed with a country-made pistol, Mahesh shot Tanu in the chest.
Her cousin Rahul fired additional shots, killing Tanu.
The father and cousin then threatened others present with further violence, including police officers and family members.
Mahesh was subdued and arrested, while Rahul fled the scene with the weapon.
The incident, which occurred in the Gola Ka Mandir area, has sparked outrage across India.
Social media platforms are flooded with demands for justice, with many condemning the persistent culture of honour killings in India.
A user said:
“He did this ignorant act just for the sake of his pride and ego. Rest in peace.”
Another wrote: “The weird thing is that if a woman marries someone else, then their name gets tainted. But when they actually end their daughter’s life, it doesn’t.”
One commented: “Patriarchy won. Fatherhood died.”
Efforts to apprehend Rahul continue.
Authorities are also reviewing Tanu’s social media activity as part of the investigation.
The case has reignited calls for stricter laws and enforcement against honour killings, as the nation grapples with yet another tragic loss of life.