Hindu youth shot dead by Muslim man over interfaith friendship in Dehradun
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India 
1 June, 2025
Case Summary
In the Prem Nagar area of Dehradun, a 22-year-old Hindu man named Rohit Negi was murdered by a Muslim man named Azhar Tyagi over being in contact with a Muslim woman who was in a relationship with his friend. As per reports, the deceased victim was a BJP leader. Rohit was shot dead late at night while returning home with friends after dinner. The incident occurred near Peepal Chowk in the Manduwala area. According to police reports, the main accused, Azhar, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, and an unidentified accomplice were waiting at a crossing. As Negi’s car approached, Azhar opened fire, shooting Negi in the neck. His friends rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. As per reports, Negi’s friend was in a relationship with a woman from the Muslim community, which Azhar disapproved of completely. Azhar did not like that a Muslim woman was dating a Hindu man. He tried to stop the girl from being in touch with Rohit and his friends; however, the girl did not listen to Azhar and distanced herself from him. This angered Azhar, and he took photos of the Muslim girl when she was at a party with Rohit's friend. He issued threatening calls to the Muslim woman with the intent to intimidate her. Rohit intervened and had a verbal altercation with Azhar, resulting in the perpetrator becoming even angrier. The altercation escalated, culminating in the fatal shooting in which Rohit was killed. Following the incident, Negi’s friend Abhishek Bartwal, who was present in the car, filed a police complaint. The police registered a case of murder under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Four police teams were deployed to apprehend the accused, and CCTV footage from the area was examined as part of the investigation. Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Shah stated, “A case was registered against Azhar and another unidentified accused. We are examining CCTV camera footage, and the accused, along with an accomplice, will be apprehended soon”.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been placed in the Undecided category due to the complex nature of the motive behind the crime. A Hindu man, Rohit Negi, was shot dead by a Muslim man, Azhar Tyagi, in Dehradun, reportedly due to Azhar’s disapproval of a relationship between a Muslim woman and Rohit’s friend. The Muslim woman’s refusal to heed Azhar’s threats and her continued association with Rohit and his friend appear to have been key triggers. While the religious identities of the individuals involved are significant, especially given that Azhar explicitly objected to a Muslim woman associating with Hindu men, there is no direct evidence yet of communal slurs, statements invoking religion, or broader ideological motivations behind the murder. Azhar's motive appears rooted in personal possessiveness, control, and revenge, rather than an organised or ideologically driven communal agenda. However, the targeting of a Hindu man due to his social contact with a Muslim woman does echo patterns observed in communal tensions, particularly involving questions of interfaith relationships. Given this context, and in light of the absence of explicit communal rhetoric or hate-based justification, the incident cannot be conclusively classified as a hate crime at this stage. However, it remains a deeply troubling case with strong communal undertones, and should continue to be monitored. If further evidence emerges — such as messages, witness statements, or interrogation findings indicating a religious or ideological motive — the case will be reclassified accordingly.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
1
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 1
- Unknown 0
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
