Dark Lane, Lost Dream: JEE Aspirant Stabbed to Death in Delhi

New Delhi, December 13, 2025: A promising future was tragically cut short in Sarai Rohilla, North Delhi, when 18-year-old Aryan Yadav, a dedicated JEE aspirant, was fatally stabbed after bravely resisting a robbery attempt on November 30. The crime, which took place in an unlit, notorious shortcut, has not only devastated a family but also brought the focus sharply back onto the lack of basic safety infrastructure and rising petty crime in the city.

Aryan, a Class 12 student dreaming of becoming a mechanical engineer, was on his way to a friend’s wedding when he chose a familiar shortcut near an open drain and an old Shiva temple towards Shastri Nagar. This dimly lit passage, frequently used by locals for its convenience, proved to be a death trap. He was confronted by a group of youths looking for a ‘soft target’ to rob for quick money to fuel their drug habit. When Aryan refused to hand over his mobile phone, he was stabbed with a knife the assailants had reportedly purchased online for a mere ₹400.

Investigation and Arrests

In a swift action, the Delhi Police arrested two 19-year-olds and apprehended two minors, aged 14 and 15, in connection with the murder. According to police reports, the group confessed that they carried out robberies specifically to fund their drug addiction. The same night of Aryan’s murder, the group reportedly went on to steal a scooter and snatch another phone, which they later sold to buy alcohol and Ganja the next morning. Police traced the group using over 150 CCTV camera footages, which showed the four fleeing the scene towards Shastri Nagar.

A Dream Interrupted

For Aryan’s family, originally from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, who had moved to Delhi for a better life and education, the loss is immeasurable. His father was saving every penny for his JEE coaching. Relatives remember him as the family’s “daring” and exceptionally bright child, who could fix any broken gadget at home—a testament to his mechanical aptitude.

“He was very brave and daring, and it is because of this only, because he decided to fight back, that he was killed,” his grieving uncle shared, highlighting Aryan’s refusal to succumb to the robbers’ demands. The family was planning a New Year’s trip, a plan now shattered.

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Safety Concerns Highlighted

The tragedy has shone a critical spotlight on the negligence concerning public safety in the Sarai Rohilla area. A spot check of the location by local media revealed that the critical stretch near the crime scene, which residents say has long been a dark and unsafe spot, only had its streetlights fixed after the murder.

Locals have voiced long-standing concerns about the area, especially a secluded space beneath the nearby bridge which they claim is a known hub for drug addicts. Despite a nearby police post, residents complained about the general absence of beat policing. “We have kept 4 guard dogs because we know they will protect us. For women, it is even more unsafe,” said one resident, underscoring the pervasive fear in the community, especially after sunset. This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of how infrastructure negligence and lack of policing can combine to turn everyday convenience into a fatal risk.