Newsbag

Nearly 14 years ago, Hashmi was performing a play, Halla Bol, during the municipal polls in Sahibabad on Delhi’s outskirts. During the play, Mukesh Sharma and nine others attacked Hashmi and injured him seriously. He died the next day in a Delhi hospital. His murder sent shock waves through the country. Two days later, his widow, Moloyshree Hashmi, performed the same play at the same spot in Sahibabad, sending emotions sky high. A visibly moved Moloyshree credited her trade union comrades for the systematic follow-up in a case that dragged on for long.

Naina Sahni’s case hit the headlines eight years ago. Suspecting her of having an affair with fellow Congressman Matloob Karim, Sushil Sharma shot her after he discovered her talking to Karim on the phone. He wrapped her body into a bundle and drove to Bagiya, a restaurant in a central Delhi hotel. With the help of restaurant manager Keshav Kumar, he attempted to burn her in the tandoor. However, the thick smoke alerted constable A.K. Kunju, who reached the spot. Sharma escaped then but was arrested a week later in Bangalore. While the court acquitted Keshav Kumar of murder, he was found guilty of conspiracy and destruction of evidence.

By Sailesh Mishra