Surat: The body of a 22-year-old woman, Nidhi Patel, a computer engineering graduate, was found at her home in Godavadi village of Mandvi taluka in Surat district early on Monday, with police suspecting robbery-murder, after gold jewellery was found to be missing. Investigators are also looking into other angles involving the killing being perpetrated by someone known to her.According to the preliminary inquiries, Patel was home alone when she was attacked. Investigators said she was strangled with a rope and smothered with a plastic bag. The body was found on the first-floor terrace of the house.Police registered an offence for murder and robbery against an unidentified person. Officials said there were no signs of forced entry or damage to the door, indicating the assailant may have been known to the victim and gained access without using force.The victim had completed a BTech in Computer Science and was preparing to pursue studies abroad. She was preparing for the IELTS test as part of the process.Police said gold jewellery worth around Rs 2.50 lakh was taken from the home.Her parents, police said, left on a pilgrimage on Aug 21 and returned around 3am on Monday. On their return, they discovered their daughter’s body. Investigators said Nidhi had spoken to her parents on the phone between 9.30pm and 10pm on Sunday night. When no one opened the door, her parents went to the back door of the house and found it open.The body was sent for a postmortem by a panel of doctors. Police said the autopsy report is expected to provide more information on the killing and confirm forensic findings. The victim’s father is a farmer and her mother a homemaker. Her elder sister is married and lives in Canada.“No force was used to enter, so it may be that a person known to her killed her,” said Rajesh Gadhiya, superintendent of police, Surat.
