Suspected honour killing: Delhi Police foil secret burial in Hari Nagar; Post-mortem confirms girl smothered

NEW DELHI: A murder case has been registered at PS Hari Nagar, Delhi, after a girl’s body was found being taken for burial by the Delhi Police. The police received a PCR call alleging the girl was killed by her family members due to her love affair with a cousin. The post-mortem report revealed the cause of death as smothering.

According to the police, on April 1, 2026, at approximately 2 pm, a PCR call was made by an individual claiming his cousin’s female friend had been killed by her own family and was being rushed for a secret burial. Officers reached the scene just as the family was in the process of initiating burial rites. The process was immediately halted, and the body was secured.

Preliminary inquiries suggested the girl was in a relationship with a male relative. Her family reportedly opposed this relationship, which is suspected to be the primary motive behind the crime. The Crime Team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team inspected the site. The body was then moved to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital mortuary.

The post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death as smothering, contradicting any potential claims of natural death by the family. A formal FIR for murder has been registered at PS Hari Nagar. Police are currently questioning family members and the PCR caller’s cousin to establish a clear timeline. Further Details are awaited.

Meanwhile, in a major crackdown aimed at curbing crime and illegal activities, the West District of Delhi Police conducted a 48-hour intensive enforcement drive under Operation Kavach 13.0. According to the release, the operation, carried out on the directions of the Police Headquarters (PHQ) from March 29 (6 PM) to March 31 (6 PM), resulted in over 200 arrests and widespread enforcement action across identified crime-prone areas.

Under Operation Kavach 13.0, leading to 222 arrests, 1,579 detentions, and 93 intelligence-based raids across JJ clusters, liquor routes, and other crime-prone pockets. All police stations, supported by Special Staff, ANTF, and AATS units, executed naka checking, surveillance, night domination, and surprise raids with real-time coordination on identified hotspots.

During the drive, police registered nine cases under the NDPS Act and seized a total of 8.894 kg of contraband, including ganja, heroin, and smack. Under the Delhi Excise Act, 24 cases were booked, leading to the recovery of 2,198 quarters of illicit liquor. Action under the Arms Act resulted in 18 cases, with the seizure of 18 knives, along with two scooties and one mobile phone, as stated in the release. (ANI)