Okhla residents are still struggling to come to terms with the tragic death of 65-year-old Aftab Jehan in her Ghaffar Manzil home on Sunday night. The discovery left the neighbourhood shaken: Aftab Jehan decomposed body was found inside the flat, while her frail, bedridden husband, a retired music teacher from Jamia Millia Islamia, Siraj Khan, 70, was rescued alongside their fifty-year-old son, who is “mentally unstable” and had reportedly gone without food for three days.
“On questioning, son Imran couldn’t speak comprehensively and told that his mother and father are sleeping. He confined himself to the house since last 3-4 days without food,” said police.
For many in the community, the heart-wrenching incident of Aftab Jehan death has become a painful reminder of how isolation and silence can take root even in the middle of a bustling neighbourhood.
A pall of gloom hangs over Ghaffar Manzil. Residents said it is deeply unsettling that such a tragedy unfolded (death of Aftab Jehan) in their midst, and yet they only learned of it when the police arrived, alerted after the couple’s daughter in Hong Kong informed relatives that her mother had stopped answering calls.
“Their daughter is living in Hong Kong with her family. She tried to talk to her family (mother, father and brother) in past 3-4 days but couldn’t establish any contact with them, so she called her maternal uncle to see the family. Maternal uncle W Ahmed Khan is residing nearby in Jamia Nagar,” said police.
The police eventually broke open the door to rescue the family.
As the OT report surfaced online, reactions and tributes started pouring in.
“We are shocked. People here have withdrawn from each other; it’s sad that many families live to themselves with little connection to their neighbourhood,” said Tehreema Ahmad, who knew Aftab Jehan for years. She recalled how, in 2017, she had gone to Jehan’s flat to invite their son Imran for a Republic Day event.
“I remember noticing that all the windows were covered with newspaper, and it was dark inside. We invited Imran to sing ghazals on his mother’s request she always looked after him. He came and performed well as he was a good singer. After that, I never visited their house again, but I would meet Aftab Jehan occasionally on the street. She was the only one who carried the burden of caring for her frail and bedridden husband and their ailing son. I was told the boy didn’t like people coming to the house or his parents going out,” Tehreema recalled.
Khan’s neighbour said: “I felt very sorry to hear this. It happened right in front of my flat, yet we had no idea… The truth is, people here remain very reserved…”
Surprisingly, for three days, no one had any idea of what happened to the family, reflecting the growing aloofness among residents.
“People aren’t bothered anymore, and neighbourhood bonds are weakening. We barely know who lives next door, even after seeing them repeatedly. Many keep to themselves, fearing repercussions if they interfere in others’ family matters. But it’s not all bleak when I was sick, my friends sent meals to my family. Ghaffar Manzil is a small area, and while around 400 residents are active in the local WhatsApp group, many are not members. This incident is tragic and a wake-up call for all of us,” said Tehreema.
A netizen Tariq Ali Khan said: “Maintain contact with your family members and relatives, stay socially connected, and keep checking on their well-being. Otherwise, living in isolation and not staying in touch can lead to tragedies like the one that happened in the Jamia Nagar home. This should serve as a lesson for everyone, it is essential to maintain regular contact, take care of the elderly and weak members of the family, and if there is no response, involve neighbours or authorities.”
Ershad Ahmed said: “What is happening in society is very concerning. Unfortunately this is a very concerning matter, these days people started living alone (mobile phone and TV keeps them engaged), maintain privacy and stop investing in relationships.”
Police suspect Aftab had died of a cardiac arrest and Imran seemingly could not grasp what had happened to her. “We asked him where his parents were and he told us they were sleeping. We then asked when he ate last and he simply said his mother had not fed him in three days and he was hungry. It is a classic case of social negligence,” said a senior police officer.
“The elderly weighted barely 50-55 kg when he was taken to the hospital. Their was first taken to IHBAS…his uncle was not willing to take his responsibility…Without a next of kin on the roster, IHBAS was unwilling to admit Imran,” the officer added.
Subsequently Imran was admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital until his uncle on Monday decided to take his responsibility, said officers.
“Primary inspection of the deceased body revealed that the body was highly decomposed. No injury is revealed and it appears to be a natural death due to illness however the exact cause of death can only be revealed after the post-mortem examination,” said police.
Many residents are anxiously awaiting the report. For those who knew the Khans, the loss is especially painful. One neighbour recalled how Siraj Khan, once tall and well-built, was a familiar figure in the locality. But after illness left him bedridden, he withdrew from public life, and it was his wife, Aftab Jehan, who shouldered the responsibility of caring for him with quiet dedication.
Another neightbour Arslan Azad recalled the moment police broke open the door. “I got a call after 11.00 pm to come down quickly because people were gathering. When I reached, I learned she (Aftab Jehan) had died. The police broke the lock and discovered the situation inside,” he told the OT.
He said the tragedy highlighted how distant neighbours have grown from each other. “This is a wake-up call for all of us in Okhla. We have become so disconnected that we don’t even know what’s happening in the lives of the people living right next door. Instead of gossiping or making fun of each other, we need to start asking, understanding, and supporting.”
Azad also warned against jumping to conclusions or spreading rumours about the family. “There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation going around. Until the police present the facts, we should not speculate. Their son is unwell.” As words spread in the locality rumours started swirling with some claiming that “the son has stabbed his mother”.
He remembered Jehan as a familiar figure in the locality. “Everyone had seen aunty. I often saw her taking an e-rickshaw to Julaina to get medicines for her husband. She carried a heavy burden, but she kept going.”
For Azad, the tragedy is not just about one family but about the state of urban life in Okhla. “Our neighbourhood is small, yet we are so cut off from one another. If we don’t care for each other, no one from outside will come to help. Islam also teaches us to look after our neighbours and even if it’s just by asking if they need food or something as small as salt. Sadly, this culture is fading. This incident should remind us to revive our community spirit and focus on mental health.”
As the investigation continues, the sorrow in Ghaffar Manzil lingers, with residents calling for stronger bonds and greater vigilance so that no family slips into such isolation again.
