Bengaluru Woman Found Murdered Near Agricultural Field in Siddapura
A 30-year-old woman was discovered murdered close to an agricultural field in Siddapura, near Whitefield, on Wednesday. Preliminary investigations by authorities strongly indicate that the cause of death was strangulation, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Victim Identified as Sonali Khatun, Housekeeper from West Bengal
The deceased has been identified as Sonali Khatun, a resident of Siddapura who originally hailed from Murshidabad in West Bengal. She was employed as a housekeeper at a private facility management firm located in Brookefield, contributing to her family's livelihood in the bustling city.
Family Details and Disturbing Disappearance
Her husband, Babu Shek, aged 33 and working as a construction labourer, informed police that the family had relocated to Bengaluru approximately one year ago in search of better employment opportunities. The couple resided with their two children—a 14-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl—along with Sonali's 60-year-old mother, Sayra, forming a close-knit household striving for a better life.
According to Babu's formal complaint, on Tuesday around 7:30 PM, Sonali returned home and mentioned that she had left her mobile phone at her workplace. She then took her husband's phone and stepped out to retrieve her own device, but tragically never returned. Family members attempted to contact her using a borrowed phone, but the husband's phone rang only once before being switched off, and her own phone remained completely unreachable.
Despite an extensive search conducted by the family throughout the night, they did not immediately alert the police, hoping she might return. It was only on Wednesday that her body was found, bringing the grim reality to light.
Police Investigation and Official Statements
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) Saidulu Adavath revealed that the family learned about her death when Varthur police visited their residence while tracing her address during the investigation. He stated, "Prima facie, it appears she was strangled to death, though the exact cause will be confirmed after a thorough autopsy."
Varthur police have officially registered a case of murder based on the complaint filed by her grieving family, launching a full-scale probe into the circumstances surrounding this heinous crime.
Ongoing Probe and Key Evidence
A senior police officer noted that investigators are yet to ascertain whether Sonali met someone known to her or if there was any sexual assault involved in the incident. Apart from the apparent strangulation marks, there were no visible external injuries on her body, adding to the mystery of the case.
Authorities are meticulously examining CCTV footage from buildings in Siddapura to trace potential suspects and piece together the timeline of events. Notably, Sonali's husband's phone is missing, while her own phone remains switched off, complicating the investigation.
Police have also visited her workplace to verify whether she had indeed left her phone there, as initially claimed. Intensive efforts are currently underway to trace both mobile devices, which could provide crucial clues in solving this tragic murder.
