The woman I am standing with is one of the bravest I know. Chanchal…

The woman I am standing with is one of the bravest I know.

Chanchal Chaudhary relentlessly pursued the case of her missing friend Priya – until it was revealed that Priya’s boyfriend Mohd Shamshad had killed her and buried her body inside his house.

This case became instrumental in Yogi govt bringing anti-conversion law criminalising marriage by hiding identity in Nov 2020. CM Yogi Adityanath cited this case in multiple interviews regarding the law.

Priya lived as a tenant in Chanchal’s house. She had separated from her husband and was living with her 13-year-old daughter Kashish.

Priya began an affair with a man she met on Facebook – who introduced himself as ‘Amit Gujjar.’ He later turned out to be Mohd Shamshad, a married man. Chanchal didn’t approve of the relationship but Priya was adamant on marrying Shamshad.

When Priya and Kashish went missing during the first lockdown in March 2020, only Chanchal looked for them. She filed multiple police complaints, followed up relentlessly, and didn’t let the case die.

In July, the truth came out- both mother and daughter were murdered and buried inside Shamshad’s bedroom.

Chanchal is complainant in the case. That means endless trips to court, paying lawyers, and facing security threats. But she has braved it all.

When I met Chanchal, I told her – you are like my younger sister. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate.

Last week, she reached out. In tears. Her father is hospitalised with a heart condition. Chanchal, being the only child, spent all her meagre savings in just three days of treatment. She shared how the pending court case has affected her chances of getting a job all along.

We at @sewanyaya are now bearing the cost of her father’s treatment.

God gave us an opportunity to stand by this brave girl and we won’t let her walk alone.