Horror find as woman's body discovered dumped in suitcase on road

Himani Narwal, a 22-year-old political worker in the Indian Congress party, has been found with her body stuffed inside an abandoned travel bag sparking a murder investigation

A woman has been found dead with her body stuffed inside an abandoned travel bag sparking a murder investigation.

The suitcase was found lying by a stop stop on a road in the state of Haryana, India, and the victim has been identified as Himani Narwal, a 22-year-old political worker in the Indian Congress party.

Her mother, Savita, has refused to perform her last rites until justice is served. "Election and party politics claimed my daughter's life. She made enemies because of that. The perpetrators could be from the party or even her friends," Savita said.

Authorities investigating the case said in a statement: "It is a murder and we are investigating it. The deceased has been identified as Himani Narwal. We are contacting her family members. Further investigations are ongoing."

Himani, who was living in Rohtak, northwest of New Delhi, had been actively involved in the Congress party for the past 10 years, participating in Rahul Gandhi’s 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' - a march to the unite the country - and working closely with senior party leaders during the Haryana assembly elections.

Her brother, Jatin, told how committed she was to the party, saying, "She had undertaken the padayatra (pilgrimage) with Rahul Gandhi." But her mother said she had recently lost interest in politics and was considering focusing on her legal studies. "She was associated with Congress for the past 10 years. She had also agreed to get married. She was pursuing LL.B," said Savita, reported the Times of India.

Senior Congress leader and former leader of Haryana, Bhupinder Hooda, posted on X: "The news of the barbaric murder of Congress worker Himani Narwal in Rohtak is extremely sad and shocking. I pay my tribute to the departed soul and express my deepest condolences to the family members. This in itself is a blot on the law and order situation of the state."

He continued: "There should be a high-level impartial investigation of this murder and the government should provide justice to the victim's family as soon as possible and provide the harshest punishment to the culprits." While he also confirmed that he had spoken to police officials, who assured him they were gathering leads in the case.

Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda said the news of the murder had shocked the Indian nation. "Once more, an example of the failure of law and order is coming out of Haryana," he said. "We demand that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be formed immediately, and a high-level probe be conducted. The culprits must be brought to light, and the family should get justice."