NEW DELHI: The family of 22-year-old Congress worker Himani Narwal, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase near Sampla bus stand flyover in Haryana’s Rohtak district on Saturday, has alleged that political rivalry may have played a role in her murder.
Her mother, Savita, has refused to perform her last rites until justice is served.
“Election and party politics claimed my daughter’s life. She made enemies because of that. The perpetrators could be from the party or even her friends,” Savita said, expressing doubts over the circumstances leading to Himani’s death.
“My daughter was very close to Asha Hooda (wife of former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda), I won’t perform her last rites until she gets justice,” she said.
Himani, originally from Rindhana village in Sonipat, had been residing in Rohtak. She had been actively involved in the Congress party for the past 10 years, participating in Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and working closely with senior party leaders during the Haryana assembly elections.
According to her family, she had recently expressed disillusionment with politics and was considering focusing on her legal studies instead.
“She was associated with Congress for the past 10 years. She had also agreed to get married. She was pursuing LL.B,” the mother added.
Her brother, Jatin, recalled how committed she was to the party, stating, “She had undertaken the padayatra with Rahul Gandhi.”
Senior Congress leader and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda condemned the incident, calling it a failure of law and order. “It is a very painful incident. There is a breakdown of law and order in Haryana. The state ranks first in the country in crimes against women,” he said. Hooda confirmed that he had spoken to police officials, who assured him they were gathering leads in the case. “Whoever is guilty, whether from within the party or outside, must receive the strictest punishment.”
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda echoed similar concerns, saying that the crime had shocked not just Haryana but the entire nation. “Once more, an example of the failure of law and order is coming out of Haryana. We demand that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be formed immediately, and a high-level probe be conducted. The culprits must be brought to light, and the family should get justice.”
The family has also faced past tragedies. Savita said that her elder son was killed in 2011, and she had since taken steps to protect her other son by moving him to a BSF camp. “We lived in fear. I took my son to the BSF camp to save his life,” she said.
Himani’s sudden and brutal murder has left her family shattered. Police suspect she was strangled before her body was placed in the suitcase. Preliminary investigations suggest it was a “premeditated murder,” and a case has been registered in Rohtak.
Savita’s anger directed not only at the killers but also at those she believed could have protected her daughter. “I called Asha Hooda in the morning, but my phone call was not received,” she said, questioning the lack of response from party leaders.
With their trust in the authorities shaken, the family is demanding a high-level probe and swift justice. “We demand justice for Himani. We won’t perform her last rites until the culprits are punished,” her mother said firmly.
The case has sparked outrage, with Congress leaders calling for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder.