New Delhi: Days after Radhika Yadav, a former tennis player was shot dead by her father in Gurugram, her friend, Himaanshika Singh Rajput, has come forward in an emotional video, shedding light on the oppressive environment Radhika allegedly lived in. The video, titled ‘Truth Part 1’, paints a disturbing portrait of a young woman’s fight for personal freedom and dignity.
‘They Couldn’t Stand Her Independence’
Himaanshika, who claimed to be Radhika’s closest friend since their early tennis days, described her as a hardworking, ambitious athlete who dreamt of carving her own path. But at home, she faced relentless criticism for her choices — be it wearing shorts, talking to male friends, or building an independent career through her tennis academy.
“Her parents lived under constant societal pressure, always consumed by ‘log kya kahenge’ (what will people say). They shamed her for her clothes, for her friends, for simply living life on her own terms,” Himaanshika said.
She revealed that Radhika’s father, Deepak Yadav, exercised rigid control over her personal life, demanding to see whom she spoke to on calls and monitoring her every move. “Even if her academy was just 50 meters away, she couldn’t be late. She had to justify everything,” the friend recalled.
Rejecting Baseless Speculation
Addressing the communal angle some speculated about after the murder, Himaanshika categorically dismissed such narratives. “There was no such thing. Radhika was isolated. She didn’t interact with many people. There’s no evidence of the claims being made online,” she asserted.
A Life Silenced By Patriarchy
Radhika, according to her friend, loved making videos and photographs, but gradually withdrew from expressing herself due to her family’s constant policing. Yet, she fought on, establishing her own academy and gaining recognition. But for some in her family, that independence was an unforgivable act.
On the day of the crime, her father shot her five times — four of the bullets hitting her fatally. Deepak Yadav reportedly confessed, claiming he was ‘taunted’ for living off her earnings, a grim reflection of deep-rooted toxic masculinity.