A deeply disturbing case from Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district has shocked people across the country. In Garhi Daulat village, a man named Farooq has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife and two young daughters over a dispute related to wearing a burqa. The incident, which reportedly took place around December 9 or 10, has raised serious questions about family control, women’s safety, and the dangers of extreme behaviour inside households.
According to police, Farooq became angry after his wife, 35‑year‑old Tahira, visited her parents without wearing a burqa. Investigators say that during an argument, he allegedly shot her and their two daughters, aged between 12–14 and 5–6 years. What makes the case even more horrifying is what happened afterward. Farooq is accused of burying their bodies inside a septic tank near the house and sealing it with concrete to hide the crime.
For several days, he continued living in the same home with his other children, behaving as if nothing had happened. The truth began to surface only when Tahira’s family filed a missing persons complaint after being unable to contact her. Police reached the village, questioned Farooq, and noticed inconsistencies in his statements. During interrogation, he eventually confessed to the killings.
Officers recovered a country‑made pistol believed to have been used in the crime. They also found decomposed remains from the septic tank, which have been sent for forensic examination. The police have registered a case of murder and destruction of evidence, and further investigation is underway.
The incident has sparked discussions about the pressures placed on women within families and the extreme reactions that sometimes arise from attempts to control their behaviour. Many have pointed out the contrast between this case and recent public debates, such as the controversy involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling down a doctor’s face covering during an event. While that incident received widespread attention, activists argue that equally serious issues affecting women inside their homes often go unnoticed until they end in tragedy.
Local authorities have assured that strict action will be taken and that the remaining children will receive protection and support. Community members in the village remain in shock, struggling to understand how a disagreement over clothing could escalate into such a brutal act.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stronger awareness, counselling, and intervention mechanisms to prevent domestic violence and protect vulnerable family members before situations turn deadly.
