In a tragic incident in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, a 20-year-old woman lost her life at the hands of her father just days before her “forced marriage.” Her only fault—expressing her wish to marry the man she loved.
The victim, Tanu Gurjar, had reportedly been in a six-year relationship with her boyfriend and was determined to make her own choices. However, this decision sparked a bitter conflict with her father and brother.
The situation then took a deadly turn when Tanu’s father, Mahesh Gurjar, 45, allegedly shot her in the presence of police and panchayat officials after she posted a video online narrating her ordeal.
Here’s what we know happened.
Tanu Gurjar was set to marry a man chosen by her family on 18 January, with pre-wedding festivities about to begin. However, distressed by what she called a “forced marriage,” the 20-year-old shared a video on social media, confessing her love for her boyfriend and accusing her family of coercion.
“I really love a man. We have been in a relationship for six years. My family said ‘yes’ to the marriage and then refused. They beat me daily and threaten to kill me. If something happens or I die, my family is responsible. They pressure me to marry someone else, but I can’t,” Tanu reportedly said in the 52-second video.
The man in question, Bhikam “Vicky” Mawai, hails from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and had been in a relationship with Tanu for six years. The two met during his visits to his aunt’s house in the same locality, reported Indian Express.
Tanu’s bold move to share her ordeal allegedly escalated tensions within her family. According to an Indian Express report citing Additional Superintendent of Police Krishna Lal Chandani, the video provoked Tanu’s father, Mahesh Gurjar, and her cousin Rahul, who viewed her desire for a love marriage as an attack on their ego.
Initially, the family had reportedly agreed to Tanu’s relationship, having “no opposition to caste or gotra.” However, they later arranged her marriage to an Indian Air Force officer, expecting her to sever ties with her unemployed boyfriend.
Rahul reportedly fuelled the tension, claiming that allowing Tanu’s love marriage would damage the family’s stature and set a bad example for the family.
“It was the cousin (Rahul) who kept telling the father that their reputation was at stake,” the officer said. “He claimed if she were allowed a love marriage, all other women in the family would want to marry whoever they wanted,” the officer said.
After Tanu’s video was widely shared on social media on Tuesday evening, police led by Superintendent Dharmveer Singh rushed to her home to prevent further escalation. A community panchayat was also convened to mediate the matter.
Tragically, the situation spiralled out of control, ending in violence that no one could have foreseen.
When the police arrived at Tanu Gurjar’s home, she refused to stay there, fearing for her safety. She requested to be taken to a One-Stop Centre—a government initiative supporting women affected by violence.
Her father, Mahesh Gurjar, a local hotel owner known to the authorities, insisted on speaking to her privately, claiming he could persuade her to comply with the family’s wishes.
According to a police officer at the scene, the team, including two women officers, decided to wait outside while Mahesh went in to talk to his daughter.
Tragically, the conversation turned deadly. Mahesh, armed with a country-made pistol, lost his temper and shot Tanu in the chest. At the same time, her cousin Rahul fired multiple shots, hitting her forehead, neck, and the area between her eye and nose. Tanu collapsed instantly, succumbing to her injuries.
When officers rushed inside, they found Tanu lying lifeless on the floor, with Mahesh still pointing his gun at her. “It was all so random. We were all caught by surprise. He was a decent man. On that night, he became savage,” a police officer told The Indian Express.
Mahesh then allegedly turned the gun towards the police and later towards himself. “We got some family members to calm him down. Then we got him to release his weapon,” the officer added. During questioning, Mahesh reportedly repeated that allowing Tanu to break off the arranged marriage would have brought shame to the family.
By Wednesday morning, Mahesh was arrested, while Rahul managed to escape with the pistol, according to News18.
With input from agencies
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