Outrage Grows Over Brutal Murder of 20-Year-Old Civil Defence Worker

New Delhi, 06 Sep 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: Amidst scant media coverage outrage is growing over the brutal murder of a Muslim woman who was a civil defence personnel in the Delhi Government.

Though Police have jailed an accused Nizammuddin who surrendered himself at Kalindi Kunj police station on August 27 confessing to killing Rabia Saifi, 20, in a wooded area in Faridabad, Haryana, the victim’s family alleges that there are more people involved in the murder who are being shielded by officials.

“Nizammuddin is not alone. There are around 10 persons from SDM’s office (Sub-divisional magistrate) who are involved in the murder of Rabia,” Momin, her cousin, told Clarion India. “She knew about the scams within the office and they were afraid she might expose them and that is why they killed her.”

According to Momin, Rabia’s body was mutilated — her both breasts were cut, her neck was slit & private parts were bruised.

She was murdered on August 26. A case of murder under section 302 has been registered at Surajkund police station in Faridabad, Haryana, and identifies accused Nizammuddin as Rabia’s husband. But the family refutes the claim that the two were married.

The post mortem report rules out rape or sexual assualt but confirms the injuries to chest. It also says that her neck, face, nose, chin and mouth were stabbed. Rabia’s family had alleged that she was also raped.

Two days ago, Rabia’s family who lives in the Sangam Vihar area of the national capital held a protest demanding justice for her after which, Momin said, police assured them of fair investigation.

Kaleem ul Hafeez, the Delhi head of All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen, also met the family and took part in demonstrations for justice.

She was selected as civil defence personnel in the magistrate’s office in Lajpat Nagar where Nizamuddin claimed to have met her first in January 2020.

“Nizamuddin told us that on June 11 this year, the two got married at Saket Court. Some days later, Nizamuddin learnt that she allegedly had affairs with other persons. He tried many times to talk to her to resolve the issue but she declined,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) RP Meena, quoting Nizamuddin’s statement, told the media.

However, Hafeez of AIMIM, while talking to Clarion India, said that it was not an ordinary case given that she went missing while on duty and the brutality with which she was murdered. He concurred with the family allegations that her colleagues at the magistrate’s office are involved. Both the family and Hafeez have demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI).

Hafeez lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for maintaining a silence on the “heinous crime” and demanded a compensation of rupees one crore for the family and swift punishment of the culprits.

He said protests have been held in different areas — Jama Masjid, Seema Puri, Kardam Puri — demanding justice for Rabia. Social media activists have also started hashtag trends seeking justice for the victim.

A demonstration was also held in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where a handful of protestors led by a local activist Abdul Rashid assembled at Ram Shrak Park near city square holding placards seeking justice for Rabia.
Momin, Rabia’s cousin, said they have given police a deadline of September 7 to arrest all the culprits. “We will launch a bigger agitation if they are not arrested in the next two days.”