The Asian Tribune
www.asiantribune.net
This crime has shaken the country. Radhika Yadav, a tennis player was shot dead in Gurugram near Delhi & the killer turned out to be none other than her own father.
Soon after the crime, the police began investigation and it was found that there was tension within the family.
The murder of the tennis player allegedly by her own father who pumped four bullets and killed her, show the obsession to control the lives of girls in society, even after they are old enough to take own decisions.
As she had got popularity on social media, this too was earlier suspected to be a reason behind the discord within the family.
It’s a fact that the high incidence of violence against girls and women is a big challenge in South Asia, including India, and despite the modernity, technological changes and their affect on society, the rigid views and the extreme attitudes still remain the same towards girls, especially, those those who appear to be a bit more independent.
Her father Deepak Yadav was allegedly upset and had been visibly acting differently for more than a week. Though she had tried to make peace and said that she would stop doing things that was not ‘acceptable’ to her family, yet, this didn’t affect her father.
The feeling that she was bringing shame (sic) to the family, prompted him to kill her. Yadav fired at her, four times, using his licensed revolver. Her friend, Himaanshika, later said on Instagram that Radhika never went against family and yet her own father killed her.
“Radhika didn’t deserve this. She was bright, kind, full of dreams and life. And now, she’s gone. This should never have happened. And it can not be forgotten”, said Himaanshika. Yadav had earlier financed her tennis career. After an injury, she promised to earn money as an influencer on social media.
Himaanshika Singh has posted videos on her instagram page and said that Radhika was suffering. She also said that the killing was premeditated. Certain residents apparently taunted him about her dress, lifestyle & made remarks about him living off his daughter’s earning.
She was focused on training young tennis players, say her friends. But, patriarchy and the social attitude towards girls who are strong-willed and make decisions about their own lives, lead to anger and the traditional mindset about girls, hasn’t changed in many regions.
From dowry deaths to ‘honour killings’, harassment and female foeticide, rape and marital violence, there is no end to women’s sufferings. The social evils and prejudices that have plague the society, haven’t gone away, anywhere. They stay in the minds as this case shows. The society needs to accept that there is a huge issue & nothing will change if people refuse to introspect.
Editor@asiantribune.net
