A 26-year-old nurse, Deepshikha Chadhar, was shot dead late Wednesday night outside the gate of the Shahgarh Community Health Centre (CHC) in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.
Local police have identified her cousin, Sushil Athya, as the prime accused, pointing to an alleged one-sided romantic infatuation and unreciprocated desire to marry her as the apparent motive, according to a report by Times of India.
According to investigators, Deepshikha had repeatedly declined the suspect’s marriage proposal. Despite her refusal and even after she had filed a police complaint against him in the past, the accused reportedly continued to pursue her. On the day of the incident, he travelled from Jabalpur’s Panagar area to Sagar, surveilled her routine, and waited near the hospital entrance.
When Deepshikha arrived for her night shift at the health centre, scheduled from 8 pm to 8 am, the suspect approached her, allegedly grabbed her hand, and then pushed her to the ground. He fired three shots from a country-made pistol; one missed, but two rounds struck her from behind, one piercing her heart and killing her on the spot. After the shooting, the suspect fled toward nearby forested areas.
Deepshikha, a native of Patan in Jabalpur district, had been posted as a staff nurse at the Shahgarh CHC for about two years. She was reportedly residing in a rented room approximately 200 metres from the health centre along with colleagues. Both she and the accused had completed their nursing course together before her transfer to Sagar.
The victim had formerly approached the Patan police station with a complaint against the accused, leading to a meeting between the families and a temporary compromise.
Following the shooting, law enforcement authorities launched a manhunt to arrest Sushil, conducting raids in and around Jabalpur, including Panagar and nearby areas, and searching the houses of relatives and known associates. Multiple police teams have been formed to track the suspect and secure his detention.
Deepshikha’s family had staged a road protest on the Sagar–Kanpur highway, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and strict legal action. Police intervened to disperse the demonstration after talks with family members.
Local authorities are examining all evidence from the crime scene and gathering testimony from witnesses as part of an ongoing investigation.
(Rh)