Honor Killing in Uttar Pradesh, India: 17-Year-Old Girl Shot Dead by Father and Brother

Muskan
Age: 17
Shot Dead: September 28, 2025
Location: Ambehta, Uttar Pradesh, India
Origin: India
Perpetrators: Father, brother

On Sunday evening, September 28, 2025, Muskan, a 17-year-old girl and final-year high school student, was shot dead in her home in Ambehta, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, India, by her father Julfam and her 15-year-old brother.

According to the police, her father and brother took Muskan to the upper floor of the house, where she was shot with a pistol. Local residents report that Muskan had a relationship with a local boy, which was strongly disapproved of by her family. That same evening, her father caught her chatting on her phone, leading to the fatal confrontation.

The father told authorities that he had killed his daughter “to restore the family’s honor.” An official police report has been filed against both the father and the minor son. Both suspects have been arrested, and the weapon used has been seized.

Muskan’s body has been sent to the morgue for an autopsy. Her death is being investigated as a suspected honor killing and highlights the ongoing pressure and control young women in some parts of India continue to face.

Muskan’s tragic death is not an isolated case. Honor killing remains a serious issue in India, with a rising number of reported incidents.

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.