Throat slit, legs tied: Autopsy of student killed by political-aspirant boyfriend

The victim, aged between 20 and 22, had been missing since leaving home on August 18 to attend college. Her decomposed body was found three days later inside the bathroom of her boyfriend's rented accommodation in Varanasi.

In Short

• Victim, an MSc student, found dead in boyfriend's rented house's bathroom
• Post-mortem reveals throat slitting, tying of legs, head injury, possible rape
• Accused Vivek Choubey on the run, was preparing to contest local body election

The post-mortem examination of an MSc student, who was found dead inside the bathroom of her boyfriend's rented accommodation in UP's Varanasi, has ascertained she was killed by slitting of the throat. The report also revealed that she was possibly raped, had sustained a serious injury to her head and her legs had been tied. Doctors have sent samples and slides to a forensic laboratory for scientific confirmation.

The victim, aged between 20 and 22, had been missing since leaving home on August 18 to attend college. Per surveillance on her mobile phone, her last location was traced near Malviya Inter College in Bachhaon, which is also in Varanasi. Her mother, along with another relative, found a key to the place from a bag that was kept at the accused's maternal uncle's house in Seekhar village, Mirzapur. When the mother went over there, she caught a strong foul smell before discovering her daughter's body in the bathroom.

Police have now intensified the investigation into the murder, forming four teams to arrest accused, Vivek Choubey, who is on the run. So far, raids have been conducted at eight locations in the city and as many as 10 people have been detained for questioning.

According to the woman's family, Choubey had been blackmailing her for a long time. They alleged he even took a photograph of her in a wedding dress, edited it and threatened to make it viral if she married someone else.

The victim's family had arranged her wedding somewhere else, with the ceremony scheduled for February 22 next year. Choubey became enraged after the date was fixed, and on August 18, allegedly lured her to his rented room on the pretext of helping her with NEET preparation.

Furthermore, police found CCTV installed above the main entrance of the house to be faulty. They suspect it may have been disabled intentionally to destroy evidence or conceal the identity of those involved. The student's phone and laptop have been seized to examine digital evidence.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that the accused had political ambitions and a family feud. The investigation has revealed that Choubey had been living at his maternal uncle's house for the past three years. He was preparing to contest the Gram Pradhan election in his village, Niyardih.

He also had a family dispute with his uncle, Anil Choubey.

Senior police officer Neetu Kadyan said the case was being strengthened on the basis of the post-mortem and forensic reports as well as digital evidence. She said police were working to arrest the accused and ensure the strictest possible punishment.

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