Stalker murders woman, tries to kill self later

THE VICTIM, KHUSHBOO, DIED OF INJURIES SHE SUFFERED IN THE ATTACK WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE AK PLAZA SHOPPING COMPLEX

NOIDA: An 18-year-old woman died after being stabbed multiple times in a popular Greater Noida shopping plaza by a man, who was believed to have been stalking her. He later tried to kill himself .

The victim, identified as Khushboo, died of injuries she suffered in the 11.30am attack which took place in the AK Plaza shopping complex, located in Jagat Farm Market area, the police said. The attacker was identified as 25-year-old Kudeep. The victim worked at a store in the mall, located 100 metres from a police post.

“Kuldeep arrived in front of the shop and asked the woman to talk to him. Khushboo headed towards the first floor of AK Plaza along with the accused. The CCTV footage shows that Khushboo tried to free her hand from Kuldeep’s grasp and go towards the washroom. Kuldeep then attacked her with a knife and later stabbed himself,” said Shalendra Pratap Singh, SHO of Kasna police station.

Police later rushed both Khushboo and Kuldeep to the nearby Kailash Hospital in an autorickshaw. The woman died of injuries at 7.30pm. Kuldeep is said to be stable. Kailash Hospital spokesperson Sanil Kapoor confirmed the death.

According to Khushboo’s family members, Kuldeep had been stalking her for the past two to three months and they had even complained about it to his parents. A native of Moradabad, Khushboo stayed with her parents, four sisters and a brother in the Nadarganj neighbourhood of Dadri , Greater Noida.

“Three months ago, Khushboo had told us that a guy was stalking her on a motorcycle from Dadri to her workplace in Jagat Farm Market. We then arranged an autorickshaw for her to go to work as she used to travel by shared autos.

But the stalking and harassment did not stop and Khushboo complained to us again. We then went to Kuldeep’s house in Gautampuri in Dadri and warned his parents that we will file a police complaint if he continued,” said Khushboo’s mother Anita Devi.

Khushboo was not directly employed by the outlet where she was working but had been promoting some products there for the past three months, said Rajeshwar Dayal, owner of the store, Buggon Supermarket. “We had no idea that a man was stalking her,” he said.

Police have booked Kuldeep for murder. “We have lodged a complaint under section 302 (murder) against him. We have come to know that the accused used to harass her on the phone,” said Aashish Shrivastava, superintendent of police (rural).