A family reunion during the Holi festival turned tragic in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad after a 25-year-old man allegedly stabbed his twin sister to death and seriously injured his mother inside their home. Police said the accused, reportedly struggling with emotional distress after a breakup, carried out the attack in a violent outburst that has left the family devastated and residents of the area shaken.
The incident occurred in Buddhi Vihar Colony under the jurisdiction of the Majhola Police Station. Neelima, the mother, works at a health insurance company and lives in the colony. Her twin children, Hardik and Himshikha, both aged 25, were employed in Gurugram and had returned to Moradabad to celebrate Holi with their mother. They were scheduled to travel back after the holidays.
Police said that on the day of the incident, Neelima had left for work while the siblings remained at home. During this time, Hardik allegedly attacked his sister with a knife inside the house, repeatedly stabbing her and leaving her critically injured.
Investigators said the accused then went to his mother’s workplace and persuaded her to return home with him on a pretext. When Neelima entered the house, she found her daughter lying in a pool of blood and began screaming for help. At that point, Hardik allegedly attacked his mother as well, stabbing her multiple times before fleeing the scene in a car.
Hearing the cries for help, neighbours rushed into the house and immediately alerted emergency services. Both victims were transported to the district hospital by ambulance. Doctors declared Himshikha dead on arrival, while Neelima, who suffered serious injuries, was admitted for treatment and remains hospitalised.
During the investigation, police found that Hardik had previously been in a relationship with a woman from Pune whom he had met through Instagram. The relationship ended around seven months ago, after which he reportedly became emotionally disturbed.
Moradabad SP City Ranvijay Singh said the accused’s behaviour had changed following the breakup. According to Neelima’s statement to police, her son had become short-tempered and increasingly irritable, and he believed that both his mother and sister were responsible for the relationship ending.
Police said the accused described the sequence of events during questioning, stating that he lost control in a moment of anger. He allegedly told investigators that he picked up a large kitchen knife, went into the room where his sister was resting, and attacked her multiple times. He also admitted to attacking his mother with the intention to kill her.
The post-mortem examination revealed the severity of the assault. Medical findings indicated that Himshikha sustained more than 40 stab wounds, reflecting the intensity of the attack that led to her death at the scene.
Police have taken the accused into custody and further investigation is ongoing. The incident has deeply affected residents of Buddhi Vihar Colony, where what was meant to be a festive family gathering ended in a fatal act of violence.
