A heartbreaking incident from Gurugram, Haryana, has held a mirror up to society. 25-year-old state-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was shot and killed by her own father. The incident occurred on Thursday morning in Wazirabad village, when Radhika was preparing food in the kitchen for her ailing mother's birthday. Radhika's father, Deepak Yadav, shot her from behind with three bullets from a licensed 32-bore revolver, resulting in her immediate death.
This was not a case of personal enmity or an external attack, but rather a manifestation of a father's mental breakdown and the anger stemming from societal taunts, which culminated in the taking of his daughter's life. The daughter's success and self-reliance bothered some people in society so much that their constant taunts and criticisms mentally broke the father to such an extent that he became the killer of his own daughter.
Radhika: From Player to Coach
Police investigations revealed that Radhika Yadav was a talented tennis player who had won several medals at the state level. However, a serious shoulder injury a few years ago put a break on her career. Instead of giving up, Radhika transitioned from tennis to coaching and started her own academy. Her academy gradually started succeeding, and she began training many young players.
Radhika's hard work was bearing fruit, but this very self-reliance did not sit well with society's narrow-minded thinking. Deepak Yadav repeatedly faced taunts from the neighborhood and relatives, such as "He is living off his daughter's earnings," and "If he had a son, he wouldn't have to see these days," which directly attacked his self-respect. The situation escalated to the point where Deepak insisted that Radhika close her academy. But when Radhika refused to compromise on her dreams, her father made a decision that destroyed the entire family.
Daughter Murdered on Mother's Birthday
On the morning of July 10, it was Radhika's mother, Manju Yadav's, birthday. There were no special preparations at home as the mother was unwell. Radhika was in the kitchen around 10:30 in the morning, preparing food for her mother, when her father came from behind and fired three shots. The sound of the firing caused screams in the house, but by the time anything could be understood, Radhika had breathed her last.
The incident took place in Wazirabad village, near Sector 57 in Gurugram. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot, recovered the licensed revolver used in the murder, and arrested the accused father, Deepak Yadav. Initially, the family members refrained from saying anything about the murder, but when the police intensified the investigation, the truth came to light—the daughter had been murdered by her father.
Societal Mindset Stole a Bright Future
Radhika Yadav was not only a promising player herself but had also become an inspiration to many young players. She possessed not only talent but also the passion to achieve something on her own. But this very spirit clashed with the old-fashioned thinking of society, which still considers a son as the family's 'earning machine' and looks at a daughter's success with suspicion.
The taunts of neighbors, the words of relatives, and social pressure pushed Deepak Yadav to the point where he ended his greatest joy. This incident is not just a murder; it is a story of the failure of a mindset that still cannot digest a woman's success.
