Surat: More than a week after the murder of a 22-year-old woman engineer, police are yet to identify the culprit in the case. The woman was found dead at her home in Godavadi village in Surat district on the morning of Aug 24.Police said they have not yet found any strong clue pointing to the involvement of a specific individual. Investigators are examining fingerprints, the woman’s recent communications and other possible leads, but the probe has so far failed to establish a clear direction.After Mandvi police failed to make a breakthrough, Surat SP Rajesh Gadhiya formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case. However, even after four days of investigation, the SIT is yet to gather a lead.The SIT is headed by Akshesh Engineer, assistant superintendent of police, Mandvi division. Around 60 police officers and personnel are part of the investigation.Police suspect that someone known to the woman could be involved in the murder, as there were no signs of forced entry into the house. The woman was alone at home at the time, as her parents had gone on a pilgrimage. When they returned, they found her body on the terrace.According to investigators, the assailant allegedly strangled the woman using the drawstring of a pair of shorts and a mobile charger cable. She was also smothered with two plastic bags.Police said injuries were found around her private parts, indicating suspected sexual assault. The back door of the house was open, while the front door was locked from inside.The woman’s mobile phone is considered a key piece of evidence that could help investigators identify the assailant, particularly if the suspect was known to her. The phone was initially reported missing but was later recovered from a water tank in a damaged condition.The phone has been sent to the directorate of forensic science (DFS) in Gandhinagar for examination. Police said no significant information has emerged from the device so far, but they are hopeful that forensic analysis could provide crucial clues.Investigators are also questioning people who were in contact with the woman and examining their communications. However, no concrete lead has emerged yet.“No specific lead has been found in the case. We are working on various angles to identify the culprit. We hope to get some details from the questioning of people identified by our team and from mobile phone records,” SP Gadhiya told TOI.
