18-Year-Old Woman Found Murdered Inside Delhi Boutique; Police Hunt for Missing Suspect

New Delhi: A murder investigation has been launched in West Delhi after an 18-year-old boutique employee was found dead inside the changing room of a clothing store in Moti Nagar on Saturday evening.

The victim, identified as Shabnam, had suffered a fatal injury to her throat.

Police suspect Suraj, a relative by marriage of the victim’s family, of involvement in the killing.

He has reportedly gone missing, prompting investigators to deploy several teams to locate him. Officers are also questioning members of his family as part of the investigation.

The circumstances surrounding Shabnam’s death have raised questions about alleged harassment that her family says had continued for some time.

Her relatives claim that Suraj had been pursuing her despite her lack of interest and had previously threatened her.

Shabnam’s elder brother, Arjun, alleged that the man repeatedly attempted to establish contact with his sister and followed her.

He further claimed that Suraj had threatened to stab him if Shabnam refused to respond to his advances.

The family also maintains that the accused had assaulted Shabnam last year. According to Arjun, an incident near the Acharya Bichu area prompted them to approach Moti Nagar police station.

The family says they had expected police intervention after submitting their complaint. Delhi Police, however, said the details of the earlier complaint were still being verified.

CCTV footage becomes central to investigation

Shabnam had left her residence in Sudama Puri at approximately noon on Saturday to report for work. She was employed at a boutique called Vastrasla in the B Block market area of Moti Nagar.

According to the police, the shop’s owner had asked her to attend to customers and close the premises before heading home.

The owner subsequently left to complete some personal errands and was monitoring the establishment through remotely accessible CCTV cameras.

A woman named Ashu, who operates a business opposite the boutique and had previously employed Shabnam, recalled seeing the young woman at around 6.45 pm. She said Shabnam appeared to be using her mobile phone inside the shop.

Ashu said she later received a call from the boutique owner, who had noticed something disturbing while checking the surveillance recordings.

The footage reportedly showed a man entering the premises and assaulting Shabnam. After his appearance, the owner could no longer locate the young employee on the camera feeds.

The owner asked Ashu to inspect the premises, but an initial search did not establish Shabnam’s whereabouts. The shop was subsequently closed by some neighbouring shopkeepers.

Later, the group returned after reviewing the available recordings. According to Ashu, the footage showed the man leaving the establishment alone, without any corresponding recording of Shabnam exiting the shop.

A further inspection brought a horrifying discovery. Ashu said that when the premises were reopened, a piece of Shabnam’s clothing was visible near the changing room, along with traces of blood.

Police were alerted and entered the changing room after forcing open the door. They found the young woman’s body inside, with her throat slit. Her remains were subsequently taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for further procedures.

Family alleges years of unwanted attention

The family believes the suspected harassment began several years ago. Arjun said Shabnam first came into contact with Suraj in 2023, when she was 15.

He explained that two of his sisters had married into the same family, whose residence was only a short distance from their home.

Suraj was one of the brothers in that household, and frequent interaction between the two families gradually brought him into contact with Shabnam.

Arjun alleged that Suraj subsequently developed an interest in his younger sister and repeatedly tried to communicate with her despite her unwillingness.

The family says the alleged threats and physical assault were reported to the police last year.

Investigators are now expected to examine the earlier complaint, establish the sequence of events and determine whether the suspect’s alleged conduct was connected to Saturday’s killing.

Financial hardship had forced her to take up work

Shabnam was the youngest of six children and lived with her parents and siblings in Sudama Puri, a densely populated neighbourhood near Moti Nagar. Her father, Sone Lal, works as a construction labourer.

She had joined the boutique a little over two months ago. Her brother said the family was facing considerable financial pressure, with loan instalments and household expenses becoming difficult to manage.

According to Arjun, the family had initially encouraged Shabnam to continue her education instead of taking up employment.

However, she became increasingly concerned after witnessing repeated calls from lenders demanding repayment of outstanding dues. She subsequently decided to contribute towards the household’s expenses.

Arjun, who earns his livelihood by driving an e-rickshaw, said the family had been struggling with outstanding payments on household purchases, including a refrigerator and television.

The murder has left the family devastated. Recalling his younger sister, Arjun broke down while describing how he had watched her grow up and cared for her since childhood.

Police are continuing their efforts to trace Suraj, examine CCTV recordings and establish the precise sequence of events inside the boutique.

The investigation will also focus on the family’s allegations of previous harassment and the circumstances in which the young woman was left alone at the shop.