15-year-old girl's body found in Sarkhej canal, boyfriend suspected of murder

The body of a 15-year-old girl was recovered from the Narimanpura canal in Sarkhej, Ahmedabad, on Tuesday evening. Police suspect that she was murdered and her body dumped in the canal by her boyfriend.

According to police officials, the body was first spotted by locals, who alerted the Sarkhej police. The girl’s mother was called to the spot for identification, and she confirmed that the deceased was her missing daughter.

Preliminary examination revealed injury marks on the neck and face of the victim, suggesting that she may have been strangled before being thrown into the canal.

Police said the deceased had been in a relationship with one Ajay Thakor, an autorickshaw driver. Around two months ago, she had reportedly left her home without informing her family, taking along her birth certificate and other documents, and had been living with Ajay since then.

Following the discovery of the body, the girl’s mother lodged a complaint against Ajay Thakor, alleging that he had murdered her daughter. The Sarkhej police have detained one of Ajay’s friends, suspected to have helped him in the crime, while the main accused is absconding.

“We have launched a search operation to trace and arrest Ajay Thakor,” said a police official, adding that forensic and post-mortem reports will help establish the exact cause and time of death.