Friend reveals calculated planning behind Gurugram teen’s killing, sparking national outrage and renewed calls for action against honor-based violence.
New Delhi: 14 July 2025
The murder of 19-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav by her father in Gurugram has shocked the country, with new reports indicating an intended killing rather than an impetuous act; A premeditated murder, motivated by patriarchal control and social shame.
Radhika’s close friend Himaanshika Singh Rajput took to Instagram with emotional testimonies, alleging that Deepak Yadav, Radhika’s father, meticulously prepared for the murder over three days. According to her, he bought a new revolver, strategically ensured the family dog was removed from the house, and created an environment where Radhika would be isolated setting the stage for the horrific act on July 10.
The reason, Rajput said, was due to their long-standing disapproval of Radhika’s lifestyle – her social media presence, her clothing choices, and her aspirations as an athlete were contrary to the family’s strict traditionalism. Local friends purportedly stoked Deepak’s resentment by mockingly describing him as a father “living off his daughter” and “not controlling her.”
In her videos, Rajput described Radhika as having emotionally surrendered in her final days, exhausted by constant judgment and family pressure. “How long must girls be killed because of men’s fragile egos?” she asked, a now-ubiquitous question on social platforms and in news media.
In the process, the case has given fresh national attention and energy to the problem of honour killings and the need for legal and social protections for women being injured or killed for violence under the guise of family honour.
While authorities continue to investigate, activists are calling for more actions against patriarchal violence, better support for young woman threatened by family, and cultural change towards values that are interested in prioritizing freedom, safety and respect instead of archaic notions of honor.
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