A week after the murder of 22-year-old computer engineer Nidhi Patel, police in Gujarat’s Surat district are yet to identify the person responsible for her death.Patel was found dead at her home in Godavadi village on the morning of August 24. Despite an extensive investigation, police said they have not yet uncovered a strong clue pointing to a specific suspect.Investigators are examining fingerprints, Patel’s recent communications and other possible leads, but the probe has so far failed to establish a clear line of investigation.After Mandvi police were unable to make a breakthrough, Surat Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to take over the case. Four days after beginning its investigation, the SIT is still looking for a concrete lead.The team is headed by Akshesh Engineer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mandvi division, and includes around 60 police officers and personnel.Investigators suspect that the killer may have been known to Patel because there were no apparent signs of forced entry into the house. Patel was alone at home when the incident occurred, as her parents had travelled on a pilgrimage. They discovered her body on the terrace after returning home.According to investigators, the attacker allegedly strangled Patel using the drawstring from a pair of shorts and a mobile charger cable. Police also suspect that she was smothered with two plastic bags.Investigators found injuries around Patel’s private parts, raising suspicions of sexual assault. The circumstances at the house have added further questions to the case: the back door was open, while the front door was locked from the inside.With no clear suspect identified a week after the killing, police are continuing to examine forensic evidence, Patel’s communications and her personal connections in an effort to determine who entered the house and why.
Mystery Deepens in Surat Techie’s Murder: 22-Year-Old Found Strangled, Smothered at Home
