Nizamabad murder: YouTuber wife's killer hacked to death in public
Synopsis
Six months after allegedly killing his pregnant YouTuber wife over dowry demands, Haribabu was himself hacked to death in broad daylight at a busy Nizamabad crossroads — the entire attack captured on CCTV. The case, involving a bail release and a retribution killing in a public space, raises sharp questions about victim-side protection and bail conditions in dowry-murder proceedings.
Key Takeaways
Haribabu (26) was hacked to death at Raja Rajendra crossroads, Nizamabad on 17 September 2026 ; the attack was recorded on CCTV .
He was stabbed nine times in 10 seconds by an unidentified assailant who fled in a car with two others.
Haribabu had allegedly stabbed his wife Vaishnavi (19) — a YouTuber who was four months pregnant — on 17 March 2026 in Jagtial district over unmet dowry demands .
Vaishnavi co-ran the YouTube channel 'Vaishu Amma' , which had over 50,000 followers and nearly 200 videos .
Haribabu had been released on bail and relocated to Nizamabad before Thursday's killing.
Police have registered a case and are examining CCTV footage; no arrests reported as of Thursday evening.
A man accused of stabbing his YouTuber wife to death six months ago was himself killed in broad daylight on Thursday, 17 September 2026, when an unidentified assailant attacked him with a sickle at Raja Rajendra crossroads in Nizamabad, Telangana, police said. The entire sequence was captured on a CCTV camera at the busy intersection.
How the Attack Unfolded
Haribabu (26), who had recently been released on bail after his arrest in his wife's killing, was selling corn from a pushcart near a roadside chat shop when the attack took place. According to eyewitness accounts cited by police, a car carrying three persons pulled up at the crossroads. One occupant, allegedly armed with a sickle used for cutting coconuts, lunged out of the vehicle and stabbed Haribabu nine times within 10 seconds. The assailant then got back into the car and sped away. Haribabu died on the spot; his body was shifted to Government General Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Background: The Death of YouTuber Vaishnavi
On 17 March 2026, Haribabu had allegedly stabbed his wife, Vaishnavi (19), multiple times with a knife at their residence in Madhapur village of Korutla mandal in Jagtial district. Vaishnavi, who was four months pregnant at the time, was killed on the spot. Police said Haribabu had allegedly been harassing her over unmet dowry demands. He fled the scene after the killing but was subsequently arrested. After securing bail, he had relocated to Nizamabad and was living there with his mother.
Vaishnavi had co-run a YouTube channel titled 'Vaishu Amma' with Haribabu. The channel had amassed more than 50,000 followers and featured nearly 200 videos at the time of her death, making her a recognised local content creator.
Investigation Under Way
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into Thursday's killing. Officers are analysing the available CCTV footage from Raja Rajendra crossroads to identify and trace the assailant and the other occupants of the vehicle. No arrests had been reported as of Thursday evening.
Broader Context
The killing is the latest in a string of high-profile retribution attacks in Telangana that have played out in public spaces. Notably, Haribabu had been out on bail and was reportedly living openly in Nizamabad — a detail that investigators will likely examine as they probe whether anyone close to Vaishnavi's family was connected to the attack. Dowry-linked violence continues to be a persistent concern in Telangana, with the state recording among the highest numbers of dowry-death cases annually, according to official crime data. The visually documented nature of Thursday's attack — both offences captured on camera — is expected to intensify public debate on bail conditions in dowry-murder cases.
Point of View
Living openly, and apparently unprotected — or unmonitored — in a new town. The retribution killing, filmed in full on CCTV, will likely dominate the news cycle, but the more uncomfortable question is how bail was granted in a case involving the alleged stabbing of a four-months-pregnant woman. Telangana's dowry-death numbers remain among the country's worst, and each such case that ends in vigilante violence rather than judicial accountability represents a systemic gap that courts and police must reckon with. The camera caught both crimes; the question is whether the law will respond equally to both.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Haribabu and why was he killed?
Haribabu (26) was the accused in the dowry murder of his wife Vaishnavi (19) in Jagtial district, Telangana, on 17 March 2026. He was hacked to death by an unidentified assailant in Nizamabad on 17 September 2026, six months after the alleged killing, while he was out on bail.
Who was Vaishnavi and what was her YouTube channel?
Vaishnavi (19) was a local content creator who co-ran a YouTube channel called 'Vaishu Amma' with her husband Haribabu. The channel had more than 50,000 followers and nearly 200 videos at the time of her death in March 2026.
What were the circumstances of Vaishnavi's death?
According to police, Haribabu allegedly stabbed Vaishnavi multiple times with a knife at their residence in Madhapur village, Korutla mandal, Jagtial district, on 17 March 2026. She was four months pregnant at the time. Police said the motive was unmet dowry demands.
How did Thursday's attack on Haribabu take place?
A car with three occupants pulled up at Raja Rajendra crossroads in Nizamabad. One person got out and attacked Haribabu — who was selling corn from a pushcart — with a sickle, stabbing him nine times in roughly 10 seconds. The assailant then re-entered the vehicle and fled. The attack was captured on CCTV.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Police have registered a case and are examining CCTV footage from the crossroads to identify the assailant and the other occupants of the vehicle. No arrests had been reported as of Thursday evening, 17 September 2026.
