Jisha murder investigation status report: Here are the leads the police are following

Ten days since the rape and brutal murder of Jisha from Kerala, 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 clearer picture of what really happened with Jisha. Here’s what we know of the investigation.

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 media that they have got crucial evidence and the probe is headed in the right direction.

Here are the important leads the police are following up:

• 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.
• Special Investigation Team (SIT) retrieved a pair of chappals from the crime scene and it would be sent for footprint analysis.
• Neighbours have seen Jisha fetching water from the public pipe around 5pm on April 28. Police assume that the accused might have hid inside Jisha’s house while she was away. Police also said that 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 for further harm that can be done to the body. According to police rape and other harm to the body were done after the death.