Jisha Rape and Murder Case: Here Is What We Know So Far

A snapshot of the leads the police has so far.

It has been ten days since the rape and brutal murder of Jisha, a Dalit law student from Kerala, however, no arrests have been made by the police in the case, although several people have been detained.

A special police team with senior officers is investigating the crime.

Police say they have got solid leads, but the state is still awaiting a clear picture of what really happened with Jisha.

Here’s what we know of the investigation so far:

• Investigation teams have taken around 30 persons in custody in connection with the murder and rape. But the investigations are still based on speculation. On Friday ADGP south zone, K Padmakumar told the media that they have got crucial evidence and the probe is headed in the right direction.
  
  
• Neighbours found similarity in the police drawn sketch of the accused and a friend of Jisha’s sister’s friend. This friend, who is allegedly a drug dealer and was also reportedly involved in women trafficking, is missing since the incident took place.
  
  
• Neighbours have seen Jisha fetching water from the public pipe around 5pm on 28 April. Police assume that the accused might have hidden inside Jisha’s house while she was away. Police also said that the murder was planned and not accidental or sudden action.
  
  
• Police also consider it as a ‘burking’ model murder, that is killing by suffocation, so as to leave the body intact even after death. According to the police, the rape and assault took place after Jisha’s death.
  
  
• Special Investigation Team (SIT) retrieved a pair of chappals from the crime scene and it would be sent for footprint analysis.