Ankita Sharma
Age: 25
Strangled: 3 August 2026
Residence: Pratap Nagar, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Origin: India
Children: Unknown
Perpetrator: father, Vimal Sharma
Ankita Sharma, a 25-year-old woman from Pratap Nagar in the Jaitpur police station area of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, was allegedly strangled to death by her father after she married a man of her choice without informing or obtaining the consent of her family.
Ankita had known Amit Pachauri, a resident of Nahtoli village and a jawan serving with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), for approximately four years. In February 2026 (reportedly on 23 February), the couple married in court. After the marriage, Pachauri returned to his place of posting while Ankita continued to live at her parents’ home. According to police, she had entered into the marriage without informing her family or seeking their approval.
When her family learned of the marriage, her father, 55-year-old Vimal Sharma, became deeply upset. Police stated that the family was concerned about the social consequences and that word of the marriage had spread within the community. Family members allegedly pressured Ankita to end the relationship, which she refused.
In the early hours of Monday, 3 August 2026 (late Sunday night into Monday), Ankita was attacked inside the family home. According to police and the father’s later confession, Vimal Sharma first beat his daughter and then strangled her with a scarf (dupatta/chunari). During the assault her mother, Sita Devi, allegedly covered Ankita’s mouth to silence her screams. Neighbours heard the cries, dialled 112, and alerted the police. Officers forced open the door and found Ankita lying on the floor with a scarf tightly wrapped around her neck and blood coming from her mouth. She was rushed to hospital, where she was declared dead. Strangulation marks were visible on her neck; the post-mortem confirmed death by strangulation.
Vimal Sharma was arrested at the scene. He remained sitting beside his daughter’s body after sending his wife and son away. During questioning he admitted that he was unhappy with his daughter’s decision to marry and said he committed the crime in a fit of rage because she had brought shame on the family. Other family members, including the mother Sita Devi and brother Ankush, initially absconded. Subsequent investigation established the mother’s involvement; police continued to search for her as of 5 August 2026.
Police completed the inquest proceedings and registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder. The investigation remained ongoing.
The circumstances described by police indicate that Ankita’s marriage was the central reason for the conflict with her family. Her death is therefore being treated as a suspected honour killing, in which the victim was allegedly killed by family members because her choice of husband was regarded as bringing shame or social dishonour upon the family.
Ankita’s case illustrates the continuing danger faced by women in India who marry without the approval of their families. Although adults have the legal right to choose their spouse, opposition to relationships and marriages can, in some cases, escalate into violence and murder carried out by relatives who claim to be protecting family honour.
As of the latest available reports, Vimal Sharma remained in custody as the principal accused, his wife was sought as a co-accused, and the police investigation was continuing.
