A 28-year-old woman was fatally shot in broad daylight in Gwalior on Friday. The assailant was her estranged husband, identified as Arvind Parihar, who is a local contractor. The incident occurred near the Roop Singh Stadium, a bustling area in Gwalior.
According to eyewitnesses, Arvind intercepted his wife, Nandini, and fired four to five rounds at point-blank range into her face. Nandini collapsed on the road, while Arvind remained at the scene, holding the pistol.
The police arrived after being alerted by onlookers. Arvind then pointed the pistol at the police, who responded by firing tear gas shells and cordoning off the area. After a tense standoff, police overpowered and arrested him. Nandini was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead.
SP Dharamveer Singh revealed that Arvind and Nandini had a complicated history. Both had prior marriages that ended, and they subsequently lived together. Nandini had accused Arvind of concealing his first marriage and children and claimed he deceitfully "married" her at an Arya Samaj temple. Their relationship was reportedly marred by violence, leading Nandini to file multiple complaints against Arvind.
The incident has raised concerns about women's safety, the responsiveness of law enforcement, and the dangers of toxic relationships. The fact that the crime occurred in broad daylight, in a VIP zone, and against a woman who had repeatedly sought police protection has amplified these concerns. CSP Nagendra Singh Sikarwar confirmed that Arvind attempted to intimidate the police with his weapon. The gun has been seized, and forensic teams are investigating the crime scene.