January 2025, her wedding was just four days away, Tanu Gurjar, a 20-year-old woman from Gwalior, lost her life in a brutal act of violence by her own father.
Tanu’s crime? She dared to oppose her family’s decision for an arranged marriage and expressed her desire to marry, a man she had loved for several years. Hours before her death, Tanu posted a 52-second video accusing her family of abuse and threats, naming her father as the one responsible for her suffering.
Police arrived at the scene after the video went viral, to mediate. But during the discussions, Mahesh, her father, enraged and unmoved, shot her in front of police officers.
Armed with a country-made firearm, shot his daughter in the chest. Simultaneously, her cousin Rahul shots Tanu in the face and neck. Tanu collapsed immediately, dying of her injuries. Mahesh was subdued and arrested, but Rahul managed to escape with the pistol.
This tragedy is a chilling reminder of the dangers women face for asserting their agency in matters of love and marriage.
