Three family members arrested for murdering 19-year-old woman in Hari Nagar

A 19-year-old woman was smothered to death by her parents and brother in Tihar village, Hari Nagar, West Delhi, after they opposed her relationship with a man. The murder came to light on Wednesday at around 2 PM, leading to the arrests of the victim's father and brother on Friday, and her mother on Saturday.

The victim was identified as Noor. Delhi Police arrested her father, Mohammad Maneer, 55, and her brother, Meraj Ali, 19, on Friday. The mother, Rabiya Khatun, 55, was arrested on Saturday. Maneer and Khatun worked as vegetable vendors, while Ali worked as a helper in a private company. The family, originally from Bihar, had moved to Delhi last year and lived in rented accommodation in Tihar village.

According to the police, Khatun confessed during questioning that the family planned the murder because they felt their reputation was being tarnished by Noor's relationship with a man from their native village. Khatun reportedly held her daughter's legs while Maneer pinned down her hands and Ali smothered her with a pillow. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that smothering was the cause of death.

The crime was uncovered after police received a call from one of Noor's friends around 2 PM on Wednesday. The friend informed the police that the family was attempting to take Noor's body for burial. A police team immediately rushed to the location and took custody of the body.

Before the police arrived, the family had told their neighbours that Noor died due to kidney failure and jaundice. However, investigators found no medical records to support these claims.

The police have recorded the statement of the man Noor was in a relationship with. Alongside murder charges, the accused face charges under Section 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing the disappearance of evidence and providing false information to screen offenders.