Murder witness shootout case: Rachnas daughters fear for lives; police protection to continue

The Delhi police will keep providing security to Rachna Yadav’s daughters, who fear they could be the “next targets” of those accused of killing their parents.

“Delhi Police takes witness protection seriously, and Rachna’s daughters will continue to receive protection from the police until all the accused are arrested,” Vijay Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range), said on Tuesday.

Rachna, 52, was shot dead near her home in Shalimar Bagh on January 10. She was the key witness in the 2023 shooting of her husband, Bijender Yadav, in Bhalswa village, Jahangirpuri. Police have arrested Bharat Yadav, who is accused of planning Rachna’s murder, along with Nikhil and Sumit. Mr. Bharat Yadav is also a co-accused in Bijender’s murder case.

“I am grateful that the accused in our parents’ murder cases have been held. However, we are scared that the accused’s associates might come for us,” Rachna’s elder daughter told The Hindu.

Key witness

According to the police, Mr. Bharat Yadav had allegedly conspired to kill Rachna as she was the key prosecution witness and was actively pursuing the trial against him. “She was scheduled to depose in court shortly, and her testimony was likely to seal the fate of Bharat in the Bijender murder case,” said Ravindra Singh Yadav, Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order).

“Bharat seemed to have a long-standing property dispute with Bijender, about a 250-square-yard plot on the road between Swaroop Nagar and Burari,” the officer said.

The officer said Mr. Nikhil allegedly shot her while Mr. Sumit rode pillion on the motorcycle used in the crime.

Police said all three accused have confessed to the crime. “A few other persons have also been detained and are being interrogated. A probe is under way to uncover the additional links in the case,” the officer said.

With the help of AI and CCTV footage, the police identified the suspects who escaped on a motorcycle. “We conducted multiple raids across several States and got hold of Mr. Bharat and Mr. Nikhil from a hut in a forested area of Katihar, Bihar,” the officer said.

Mr. Sumit was caught in Haryana.