Overview

• Saira left home on Saturday to fetch cattle fodder and was found dead in a Moradabad field the next day with 18 screwdriver-inflicted stab wounds.
• Police traced five missed calls on Saira’s phone to Rafi, a villager who had previously harassed her after she arranged for him to be beaten.
• During interrogation, Rafi admitted he followed Saira for two days after she rejected his advances and carried out the brutal attack before bathing and sleeping.
• Post-mortem results ruled out sexual assault and confirmed that a sharp weapon caused the multiple fatal injuries.
• Rafi remains in custody as authorities continue probing the case under the lens of stalking-driven gender-based violence.