Surat: A month after 22-year-old computer engineer Nidhi Patel was murdered in Godavadi village, Surat police remain without a clear lead, with narcoanalysis and psycho-analysis reports on two suspects yielding no leads.The investigation turned to the Directorate of Forensic Science in Gandhinagar, after police received specific leads against a woman and a man. A team camped there for almost a week while the two underwent tests.“The report has been received and it has an analysis of the people examined. But it does not help us to reach a conclusion relating to the crime,” said Rajesh Gadhiya, superintendent of police, Surat.Police had pinned their hopes on the forensic reports after earlier leads turned inconclusive. Questioning several people and analysing technical data have also failed to crack the case.Investigators said no physical evidence was recovered from the crime scene. They have also found no digital clue pointing to any suspect so far.Police suspect the woman was killed by someone known to her, as there were no signs of forced entry into the house and she may have let the killer in.The killer took her phone, damaged it and threw it into a water tank, police said. Her laptop was left behind. Some jewellery is also suspected to have been taken, though police said the manner of the crime suggests murder was the main intent.Patel was strangled with a drawstring from shorts and a mobile charger cable, while her face was covered with two plastic bags to smother her. Police said the use of multiple objects indicates the killer wanted to make sure she died.Injury marks were found around her private parts during the postmortem. Police suspect an attempt was made to sexually assault her. The detailed postmortem report is awaited to ascertain if she was sexually assaulted.Investigators also believe the body was moved inside the house. Police suspect the woman was killed on the ground floor and her body was taken to the terrace on the first floor and kept in a narrow space.The crime scene suggests at least two people may have been involved, police said, as the woman was killed and her body was moved upstairs.Police are also awaiting leads from the victim’s mobile phone, which has been sent to the Directorate of Forensic Science for analysis.
