A 40-year-old woman and her teenage son were stabbed to death in Southeast Delhi’s Govindpuri on Wednesday night, police said. The two were reportedly stabbed with a sharp-edged weapon and their bodies were found in a pool of blood. The deceased woman has been identified as Sharda, who had 11 stab wounds, and the boy was Kushal.
Sharda’s sister-in-law Manju (39), who is said to be the biological mother of Kushal, claimed Sharda and Vishnu adopted the boy when he was 11-day-old. “They did not have a child even after decades of their marriage. I had two sons. I let them adopt Kushal,” said Manju.
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A family’s dreams were shattered overnight
A soft-spoken child with a love for drawing and computers, Kushal was the centre of his family’s hopes and aspirations. Just days before the murder of Kushal and his mother Sharda, the family had returned from a holiday in Manali — a trip that unknowingly became their last together.
Originally from Uttar Pradesh, the family had been living in Delhi for over 30 years and moved into their Govindpuri home in 2016. On Thursday morning, the narrow lane outside the house was crowded with grieving relatives and neighbours struggling to process the tragedy.
‘He was so tiny when I first held him’
Kushal’s birth mother, Manju Sahu, broke down repeatedly as relatives tried to console her. Beside her sat sister-in-law Gudiya Sahu, both unable to accept the devastating loss. Holding Manju’s hands tightly, Kushal’s grandmother, Javitri Devi, cried, “He was so tiny when I first held him.”
Relatives described Kushal as a bright and gentle boy who was loved throughout the neighbourhood.
A child who loved art and computers
“He loved to draw. I often saw him making projects and trying new forms of art,” Gudiya said. “He had recently developed a keen interest in computers. He would often tell my son, 'Bhaiya, please computer chalana sikha dena’.”
Family members believed Kushal’s curiosity and creative interests would eventually shape his future career. Though Sharda had studied only till Class X, relatives said both parents were determined to provide their son with every possible opportunity.
Parents dreamed of sending him abroad
"Mamu and mami had so many dreams for him. They wanted to send him abroad for higher studies,” said his cousin, Yash Sahu. He added that the couple had been carefully saving money for Kushal’s education and future plans.
Relatives said Kushal was cautious by nature and deeply attached to his mother. “If Kushal did not recognise a person, he would always ask his mother and only then open the door,” said Gudiya.
The final phone call
In what became their last interaction, Kushal had called one of his cousins on Wednesday evening, inviting him over to play games. The cousin declined and said he would visit later, never imagining it would be the final conversation they would share.
‘We just want justice for her’
Relatives also remembered Sharda as a warm and caring homemaker who loved cooking for her family and enjoyed experimenting with new dishes. Sitting outside the house among mourning relatives, her younger sister Kamlesh Sahu repeatedly checked her phone for updates in the case.
“She was always taking care of others. We just want justice for her,” Kamlesh said.
(With TOI inputs)
