A 16-year-old Muslim boy was stabbed to death last Thursday in the Trilokpuri area of East Delhi, India, with his family alleging he was deliberately targeted by a group of Hindu youths over a dispute he was not involved in.
The victim, Ayaan Saifi, was the only child of his mother and had been balancing his studies while helping support the household, according to relatives.
The attack took place on Thursday evening inside a neighbourhood park in Trilokpuri, a densely populated, working-class locality in the Indian capital that has previously witnessed communal tensions and outbreaks of violence.
Family members and eyewitnesses said between six and eight young men entered the park armed with knives, chased Ayaan and repeatedly stabbed him.
“They surrounded him and attacked him from all sides,” a relative who claimed to have witnessed the incident said.
“He was stabbed in the back, stomach and legs. Even his hand was badly injured.”
According to the family, the assault was premeditated and linked to an earlier dispute involving a local individual known as “Chunnu Vakil.” They insist Ayaan had no direct involvement.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
“He had no enmity with anyone. He was killed over someone else’s issue,” a family member said.
The family further alleged that Ayaan had received threats prior to the attack and had approached police for help.
They claimed the assailants used derogatory communal slurs such as “musalla” and “katua,” terms used in India to target Muslims, and said no effective preventive action was taken despite earlier complaints.
Ayaan was rushed to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in critical condition.
Relatives alleged that he briefly regained consciousness and gave a video-recorded statement to police, naming several attackers.
However, the family claimed there were discrepancies in the police account.
“Initially, we were told he named five attackers. Later they said only two names were recorded,” a relative alleged.
They also said CCTV footage from the area showed seven to eight individuals involved in the assault.
More than thre days after the incident, and even after Ayaan had been buried, the family said they had received no meaningful update from police.
“We are getting no response,” relatives said.
The family further alleged that instead of immediately arresting the suspects, police detained some of Ayaan’s relatives.
“Those who killed him are still roaming free, but our people were picked up,” a family member claimed.
One of the accused allegedly told the family that his uncle was a lawyer who would secure his release, further intensifying their concerns.
Local residents described an atmosphere of fear in the area, with some pointing to a rise in violent clashes involving groups of young men in recent months.
Ayaan’s mother, Meena, broke down while speaking to 5 Pillars, demanding swift arrests and accountability.
“He was studying and helping me. I have lost everything,” she said.
Police have said that some suspects have been detained, but have not publicly confirmed details of arrests or charges.
They have also not confirmed a communal motive behind the killing.
While speaking to 5Pillars, Ayaan’s uncle corroborated the family’s account of the attack and raised concerns about how the case has been handled.
The incident has sparked anger within sections of the local community, with the family insisting Ayaan was targeted because of his religious identity.
Delhi Police have registered a case and said an investigation is ongoing.
The family continues to demand justice.
“Nothing can bring him back, but we want accountability,” a relative said.
