The victim, identified as Sharmila, lived alone in a flat in Subramanya Layout of Ramamurthy Nagar. She was found dead on January 3 after a fire broke out in her apartment, leading investigators to initially suspect she died of asphyxiation. Detailed investigation later revealed that she had been murdered.
According to police, the accused, 18-year-old Krishnayya, is a PUC student from Kerala who lived in the house opposite Sharmila’s flat and was reportedly in one-sided love with her. Investigators said the boy entered Sharmila’s flat through a sliding balcony late at night.
Police said the suspect allegedly behaved inappropriately towards Sharmila after entering the flat and hugging her from behind. When she resisted and tried to free herself, he allegedly punched her in the neck, causing her to lose consciousness. He then allegedly strangled her.
To make the crime appear an accident and to destroy evidence, the suspect allegedly set fire to the bedroom, which later spread to other parts of the house. The fire initially misled investigators into treating the case as a suspected death due to asphyxiation.
During the investigation, police discovered that Sharmila and the suspect knew each other, with neighbors stating that she spoke to him occasionally. Police say the boy’s one-sided obsession ultimately led to the crime.
The suspect has been arrested and remanded in police custody. Further investigations are underway to reconstruct the sequence of events and collect forensic evidence, police said.
– Ends
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