Shraddha Walkar Murder: How A Domino Effect Is Birthing More Copycat Killers

India was shaken a couple of weeks ago when the story of the Shraddha Walkar broke. She was a young 22-year old woman living with her partner, Aaftab Poonawaala, in Chattarpur, New Delhi.

According to reports, the 24-year old man had a fight with Walkar and in a fit of a rage, killed her. But some reports indicate this was premeditated. However, the story does not end here. He mutilated her body, stored them in his fridge, and had other women over to his apartment in the meanwhile.

He started watching Dexter, an American crime thriller about a serial killer who disposed of the bodies of his victims by chopping them into pieces. It is being theorised he got the idea from this show to murder his partner, whom he had a history of abusing.

However, mental health experts are concerned about the effect of this heavily publicised case playing out in our society on a larger scale and having a subsequent domino effect. Since news channels have been running graphic reportage on their channels throughout, there have been more reports of such gruesome murders in the few past weeks alone.

The Domino Effect

Crimes happen every day and all around the world, however, certain cases get highlighted in the media and become the talk of the town for months. In order to gain more viewers, news channels often defy journalistic ethics and run these stories throughout the day along with graphics showcasing how it all happened.

The sensational details can trigger impressionable minds and result in the domino effect, unfolding at an exponential rate, potentially churning out copycat killers. It also begs the question, how such insensitive reportage can affect the near and dear ones of the victim.

The question here arises as to who is going to take the responsibility henceforth. The criminal would definitely be caught and put behind the bars, but what about people who are sensationalising it for the sake of their benefit?

Gruesome Murders That Followed The Shraddha Walkar Case

November 20, 2022: A report by Hindustan Times stated a man in Madhya Pradesh killed his girlfriend and posted a video of her body on social media. The police said he was wanted in 37 cases of theft and cheating.

November 21, 2022:The Indian Express reported an ex-Navy man was killed by his wife and son. They chopped his body parts into six pieces and dumped them into nearby bushes and a pond.

November 22, 2022: According to a Hindustan Times report, a man in Azamgarh killed his ex-girlfriend and chopped her body into six parts. He disposed of the parts in different places. The matter came to light when the police found her body parts in a well. Her skull was discovered 6km away in a pond.

November 24, 2022: An India Today report said a man in Uttar Pradesh killed his wife on the suspicion of infidelity. The two were married for over 10 years. He also allegedly chopped her body into multiple pieces.

November 24, 2022:The Indian Express reported a man killed his wife by slitting her throat in Sonipat, Haryana, and hung himself. The police are still investigating the matter and trying to find out what transpired.

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Concerns

The domino effect is not just a theory but has been playing out in reality. Every day such gruesome cases keep coming into the limelight. At this point, people are suffering from emotional whiplash. The aforementioned four cases are the ones that have been reported, we would not know if there are or if there could be more.

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While the rights remain with the channels to show what they see fit. As journalists and humans, we all are accountable for our decisions. Constantly showcasing images of Shraddha and Aaftab, graphics with blood, weapons, cut-off body parts, and CCTV clips should be restricted.

However, while we wait for justice to take its course, experts suggest we prioritise mental health and spread awareness about it. It will ensure aggrieved people seek the help they need, and do not isolate themselves, harm themselves or their partners and family members.

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