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A 27-year-old SWAT commando of the Delhi Police, four months pregnant, was killed after her husband allegedly assaulted her with a dumbbell at their residence in West Delhi on January 22. The officer, Kajal Chaudhary, was admitted to a hospital in Ghaziabad with severe head injuries and died five days later.

 

Chaudhary was serving in the Special Cell of the Delhi Police and married Ankur, a clerk in the Ministry of Defence, in November 2023. The couple had a one-and-a-half-year-old son. The family alleged that domestic disputes, financial stress, and dowry harassment had been ongoing since the marriage.

 

Kajal’s brother, Nikhil Chaudhary, a constable at Parliament Street police station, recalled the chilling final moments. “He told me to put the call on recording, said it could be used as police evidence; then he told me he was killing her. And then, I heard her screams,” he said. According to Nikhil, Ankur first called him, instructing him to ‘make your sister understand’, before snatching the phone from Kajal and attacking her.

 

Nikhil alleged that the assault was preceded by repeated harassment. “Even during pregnancy, she would cook and do household chores after returning from duty. She was constantly under pressure,” he said. He added that Kajal had been slapped by her husband around five months ago, and despite assurances of change, the abuse continued.

 

Also read: Woman arrested for husband’s murder in Kathua

 

The family also accused Ankur and his relatives of dowry demands, citing costly gifts provided during the wedding and ongoing harassment over financial matters. “We spent nearly Rs 20 lakh on the marriage and took loans. He even took Rs 5 lakh from her. She suffered a lot. He is a monster,” Kajal’s mother said.

 

A police officer said the couple had frequent arguments over household expenses and loans. “On January 22, Ankur allegedly banged her head against a door frame before striking her with a dumbbell,” the officer said.

 

Ankur was arrested hours after the incident. A case of attempt to murder was initially registered at Mohan Garden police station; the charges have been upgraded to murder following Kajal’s death. The child is currently with Kajal’s parents.

 

Kajal Chaudhary had joined the Delhi Police in 2022 and was posted with the SWAT team, specialising in high-risk operations. The incident has drawn attention to domestic violence issues among law enforcement personnel, prompting calls for stricter measures to protect women in vulnerable circumstances.