A 15-year-old girl died on 15 July after being allegedly pushed off the fourth floor of a building in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, by a man accused of stalking her for weeks, police confirmed on Friday, 17 July. The accused, identified as 30-year-old Shanawaz, was arrested by Ghaziabad Police, and murder charges have been added to the First Information Report (FIR).

How the Incident Unfolded

According to the victim's mother, the girl had stepped out at around 10 pm to buy milk from a nearby shop when Shanawaz allegedly intercepted and abducted her. He reportedly took her to the fourth floor of a building before pushing her to her death. Shanawaz fled the scene immediately after the act, according to police.

The mother told investigators that a verbal altercation had occurred between Shanawaz and her daughter a few days prior to the incident, during which the girl had slapped him. She further alleged that the accused had been stalking her daughter for several weeks before the fatal confrontation.

Arrest and Legal Action

Ghaziabad Police apprehended Shanawaz following the incident. Sections of murder have been formally added to the FIR, reflecting the seriousness of the charge. Police have not yet disclosed whether any additional accused are involved in this case.

Second Crime Against Women Reported in UP

In a separate and unrelated incident in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, a 19-year-old woman was allegedly abducted and gangraped in a moving car, police said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Badal Raja, had reportedly been in a relationship with the victim for four years.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kalu Singh said: 'The victim had been in a relationship with the accused, Badal Raja, for the past four years and preliminary investigation suggests she had accompanied him voluntarily.' The victim's mother, however, lodged a complaint alleging her daughter was forcibly taken away by Raja and two associates.

During the investigation, police arrested two of the accused. A third, unidentified suspect was apprehended during a police encounter and sustained a bullet injury to his leg; he is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Pattern of Violence Against Women in UP

Both incidents have drawn attention to the persistent threat of gender-based violence in Uttar Pradesh. Stalking-related crimes, in particular, have seen repeated incidents across the state, raising questions about the effectiveness of preventive policing and victim protection mechanisms. Rights groups have long called for faster FIR registration and stronger enforcement of anti-stalking provisions under the Indian Penal Code.

Authorities have not yet indicated whether a chargesheet has been filed in either case; further developments are expected as investigations proceed.