The gruesome killing of 17-year-old Kunal in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur has brought a shadowy figure back into focus — Ziqra, a self-styled "Lady Don" who is gaining notoriety both online and in Delhi’s underworld circles. The Delhi Police are investigating her possible involvement in the crime, which has sparked public outrage and political blame games.
Kunal was brutally stabbed multiple times on Thursday evening in the Seelampur area. CCTV footage from the vicinity has identified two suspects — Sahil and Rehan — as being directly involved in the attack. Both are currently under police watch.
However, it is Ziqra’s connection to the suspects and her alleged presence at the scene that has raised serious concerns. She has now been detained for questioning as police explore whether she played an instigating or active role in the murder.
Who is Ziqra?
Ziqra, who calls herself "Lady Don" on social media, is known in the Seelampur and Yamuna Paar areas for flaunting weapons in videos and creating an aura of menace. She previously worked as a bouncer for Zoya, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba — a figure linked to multiple high-profile crimes including the murder of gym owner Nadir Shah in Greater Kailash.
Residents claim Ziqra often roams the neighbourhood with a gang of 10 to 15 boys, brandishing weapons and intimidating locals. A month ago, she was arrested under the Arms Act after posting a video where she waved a country-made pistol on social media. She was released on bail but continued living in the same locality — dangerously close to Kunal’s house.
Allegations and witness accounts
While police have not confirmed Ziqra's direct involvement in the murder, local accounts suggest she had previously threatened Kunal. According to the teen’s family, he had no known enmity with anyone but was falsely linked to an earlier assault on Ziqra’s cousin Sahil, in which the latter was injured.
“My son wasn’t even part of that attack, but they kept saying his name,” Kunal’s mother Parveen told reporters. “They stabbed him multiple times like animals. It was cold-blooded revenge.”
Ziqra, sources say, had been trying to form her own gang after her former employer Zoya was arrested in a drug trafficking case. She is believed to have taken control of local operations in Zoya's absence, trying to rise within the criminal hierarchy.
Kunal's father confirmed the growing tension: "She had threatened my son several times. She used to say openly — ‘If I get the chance, I’ll kill him.’ She has been to jail, she carries a gun like it’s nothing.”
Fear and tension in the community
Following the murder, the area remains tense. The Rapid Action Force and additional local police units have been deployed as protests erupted, led by local residents and right-wing groups like the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Posters with messages like “Hindus are migrating” and pleas to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were seen plastered around the area before police took them down.
Some families have reportedly fled the neighborhood out of fear, alleging that Ziqra and her gang were operating unchecked and that authorities failed to act despite multiple warnings.
Political fallout and law-and-order concerns
The incident has sparked a political slugfest, with BJP and AAP trading barbs over Delhi’s law-and-order situation. Northeast Delhi’s Yamuna Paar region — often referred to as "Pataal Lok" due to its high crime rate — is once again under scrutiny. Frequent reports of gang wars, violent clashes, and even minors being involved in organised crime have plagued the area in recent years.
Ziqra’s social media persona
Ziqra’s online persona is a mix of defiance and danger. Using the Instagram handle @sher_di_sherni_00, she has over 15,000 followers. Her bio reads "Lady Don", and many of her videos show her dancing in the streets, posing with weapons, or walking with a gang in tow. One video even captured her waving while being arrested under the Arms Act — a clip that has since been taken down.
Her profile picture features the Palestinian flag, and her account frequently features music and videos designed to glamorize her outlaw image.
As the investigation unfolds, police are trying to determine the extent of Ziqra’s involvement — whether she merely instigated the attack, coordinated it, or played a direct role. For now, she remains under detention and continues to be questioned.
Meanwhile, Kunal’s family mourns the loss of a son they say was wrongly targeted — a young life lost in a spiral of street-level crime, revenge, and social media bravado.
Also Read: Delhi’s lady don nabbed with ₹1 cr heroin
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