Gun lover, gang member, and mother of a two-year-old: The making of New Seelampur’s 19-year-old ‘Lady Don’

Earlier this month, a video of two police personnel escorting a young woman into a police station surfaced on Instagram — she had just been arrested for allegedly brandishing an illegal firearm on social media.

- GNS News Agency, May 3

Clad in a white salwar-kurta, a white scarf around her neck, she turns around, flashes a gleeful smile and a thumbs up. The video even had a background score, a Haryanvi song “tane reel mein gunde dekhe se, makha real mein gunde hum se...”In February, several photos on the social media platform showed the same young woman striking a pose with a country-made pistol.Her Instagram handle, ‘Sher_ki_Sherni’, has more than 24,000 followers. And her posts and reels sported a common tagline — ‘Lady Don’.This young woman is Zikra of Northeast Delhi’s New Seelampur. An alleged member of the Mastan gang, she has garnered quite a reputation at the age of 19.Ten days after her arrest and subsequent release on bail in the Arms Act case, Zikra was arrested again ona far more serious charge — allegedly abetting the murder of a 17-year-old boy in the locality where she lives.On April 17, police said the 17-year-old was out buying milk when Zikra’s associates — an 18-year-old and two juveniles — cornered him in the market and allegedly stabbed him multiple times. Zikra was there too, watching it unfold, police claimed.4. Spot where the 17-year-old boy was killed on April 17. Amit Mehra 4. Spot where the 17-year-old boy was killed on April 17.Police have claimed that she was the key conspirator of the crime, which sparked communal tension in the area.

They have since apprehended eight others in the case. DCP (Northeast) Ashish Kumar Mishra had earlier said, “During the probe, evidence was collected against the accused — Zikra, another accused and two juveniles — who conspired to attack the victim. Five suspects aided the main accused in escaping and hiding.”Police insisted that the teen was a member of a gang and became a victim of rivalry between two warring groups. His family, however, has flatly denied his gang links.