Himani Narwal Murder Case: Did Her Quick Rise in Politics Lead to Her Tragic End?

Rohtak- The brutal murder of Himani Narwal, a 23-year-old Congress worker and law student, has left Haryana in shock and raised troubling questions about the dark side of political ambition.

Known for her active participation in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Himani’s rapid rise in the Congress party is now being scrutinized as a possible motive behind her tragic death. Her body was found stuffed inside a suitcase near the Sampla bus stand in Rohtak district on March 1, sparking outrage and a high-profile investigation.

The Haryana Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case, and one suspect has been arrested so far.

“ The accused belonged to a village in Jhajjar district and he was known to the deceased Himani Narwal. We will produce the man before the court and seek his remand to ascertain the reasons behind the gruesome murder. Prima facie it seems that some grudge took place between the accused and Himani,” a senior police official told media on Monday.

The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders, with the Congress demanding justice and the BJP criticizing the grand old party over the alleged involvement of its members in criminal activities.

The Narwal family has faced immense tragedy even before Himani's murder. Her elder brother was killed nearly 14 years ago, and four years after his death, Himani's father, a BSF employee, died by suicide. After her father's death, Himani's mother was offered a job in Delhi in his place and moved to a BSF camp with her younger son. However, Himani chose to stay in Rohtak to continue her education, living alone in her ancestral home in Vijay Nagar.

In an emotional statement, Himani’s mother, Savita Narwal, pointed fingers at the political environment for her daughter’s murder. She claimed that Himani’s involvement in elections and her rising profile within the Congress party had made her enemies. “The election and the party took my daughter's life. Because of this, she made some enemies. They (the accused) could be from the party, could be her friends as well,” Savita said.

Savita also revealed that Himani had left home on February 27 to attend an event related to Deepender Hooda, a Congress MP. However, after 4 p.m. on February 28, there was no communication from her. The family’s worst fears were confirmed when the police informed them about the discovery of her body on March 1.

Himani's mother said, "My daughter deserves justice. She had risked a lot at such a young age. Many people from the Congress party used to visit my house. In such a scenario, anyone could be behind her murder. I request the government and the administration to ensure justice for my daughter. I was with my daughter until 4 p.m. on the evening of February 27. After that, I left the house. When I called her on February 28, her phone was switched off. She was supposed to attend an event organized by Hooda sahab."

Himani's brother, Jatin, said, "There are several CCTV cameras installed in our colony. The suitcase in which her body was found belongs to our house. It is possible that the culprit is from the Congress party, or perhaps someone was jealous of her rapid rise. I also participated in Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra with my sister. I feel that the administration is not cooperating. If they had cooperated, the culprits would have been caught by now. So far, no one from the Congress has visited our home."

Himani's mother expressed her grief and anger, stating that her daughter aspired to practice clean and honest politics but faced resistance from those who wanted to pull her into the murky world of political corruption. "My daughter wanted to do clean politics, but people wanted to trap her in the dirt," she said. Her words highlight the challenges faced by young, idealistic individuals entering the political arena.

The BJP, however, criticized the Congress, with Amit Malviya, the party’s National Information and Technology Department in-charge, linking the murder to the Congress’s alleged history of criminal activities involving its members. He referenced the infamous 1995 tandoor murder case, in which a Congress leader was convicted of killing his wife, to highlight what he called the party’s “culture of exploitation and violence.”