Muslim teen boy killed in Delhi; mother says targeted for his religion

New Delhi: A 16-year-old boy, Ayaan Saifi, was stabbed to death in Trilokpuri on May 1, in what his family has described as a targeted killing linked to his religious identity, according to Siasat.

The teenager of Muslim faith, who was being raised by his mother as an only child, was both studying and supporting her with daily work, according to a report by The Observer Post.

According to the family, the attack was carried out by a group of adult men aged around 30 to 35. Ayaan was allegedly surrounded by eight to ten individuals in a park while he was playing with a friend. Relatives stated that he was chased before being repeatedly stabbed with a knife. The injuries were severe, with wounds reported on his back, stomach and legs, and one of his hands was also badly injured.

The family said the assault was planned and connected to an earlier dispute involving a local man identified as Vakil. They maintained that Ayaan had no direct involvement in the issue but was still targeted. He was initially taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and later shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences due to the seriousness of his injuries. During a brief period when he regained consciousness, his statement was recorded by the police, in which he reportedly identified multiple attackers.

Family members also said that Ayaan had previously received threats and had approached the police, but no effective action followed. They described repeated instances of him being subjected to communal slurs and said he had begun avoiding certain areas out of fear.

Further allegations were raised against the police response after the attack. While authorities informed the family that some suspects had been detained, no additional details were provided. The family also reported restrictions on meeting the victim while he was hospitalised.