NEW DELHI: The brutal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur on Thursday evening has triggered widespread anger and protests, as locals demand justice for the victim, identified as Kunal.
According to police, Kunal was attacked by two teenage boys in what appears to be a revenge killing. The suspects, currently on the run, allegedly belong to the Shoaib-Mastan gang. A woman named Zikra has been arrested for abetting the crime and is accused of conspiring with the killers. Sources said Zikra, who has a history of flaunting weapons on Instagram, incited the attackers.
Investigations suggest the motive stems from a stabbing incident last November in the same locality, in which one of the current suspects was injured. Believing Kunal was involved, they sought retaliation.
On Thursday, Kunal had stepped out to buy samosas and milk for his family, who had just returned from GTB Hospital where his grandmother was admitted. The assailants ambushed him near his home, stabbing him multiple times before fleeing.
“He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries,” a senior police officer confirmed. A murder case has been registered at Seelampur police station under section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying. Mohsin (35), a local resident, recounted seeing the teen drenched in blood, struggling to reach a nearby clinic just 10–15 steps away. “Even after being stabbed, he kept walking. Maybe he hoped they wouldn’t follow him. By the time I got to him, he had collapsed,” he said.
Another resident, Sheesh Pal (60), whose home is near the crime spot, said, “I heard shouting but didn’t intervene. These clashes happen often, and getting involved is dangerous. Then I saw a boy covered in blood.”
When TOI visited the scene, blood stains marked a trail from the attack site to the clinic’s blue door. Locals noted the area, usually bustling during the day, becomes eerily quiet after sunset — a factor they say enables such crimes.
Kunal’s mother accused Zikra and her associates of terrorizing the neighborhood for years. “They roam in gangs, flaunt guns, and scare everyone — even children. Zikra and her brothers have long threatened us. I know they’re behind my son’s death,” she said through tears. “My son didn’t deserve to die like this. I want justice.”
Zikra previously worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba. She was earlier arrested for posting photos with weapons on Instagram, where she has over 15,000 followers.
Police are conducting raids to apprehend the suspects and have deployed additional teams in the area to maintain peace.
