The Delhi police claim to have identified the killer of 20-year-old Radhika Tanwar, and say that he will be arrested soon.
"The accused is a mentally disturbed youth from Uttar Pradesh, and he wanted to avenge the humiliation he suffered when he was beaten up for stalking her three years ago," a police official said. The alleged murderer has been identified as 25-year-old Vijay alias Ram Singh, from Viswan village in Sitapur.
The police zeroed in on Vijay after investigators detained his two friends -- Tabrez and Ashraf -- who allegedly harboured and helped him flee the capital on March 10, two days after 20-year-old Radhika Talwar was shot dead outside Ram Lal Anand College in south Delhi where she was studying.
"His original name is Ram Singh but he lived in Delhi as Vijay. Investigations have revealed that he has a psychopathic streak. He is learnt to have been involved in stalking women in his village," said H G S Dhaliwal, deputy commissioner of police (south).
The duo told the police that he was beaten up three-and-a-half years ago in Naraina village by a local for allegedly harassing Radhika, and he wanted to avenge the humiliation. "He used to tell his friends he will take revenge whenever he gets an opportunity," Dhaliwal said.
Vijay had left Delhi after he was beaten up and went to Mumbai. He had returned to the capital 45 days ago, and approached his former employer Kamal for a job but was refused because of his alleged involvement in stalking. Vijay is then said to have approached his friends in Rohini.
"After the murder, Vijay went to his friend's place where he stayed until Thursday. He told them he had gotten involved in a scuffle in Naraina. However, due to the extensive media coverage, he felt that he could be arrested soon."
"His friends took him to Gurgaon to another acquaintance who refused to help him. Then they took him to Gurgaon railway station and left him there," Dhaliwal said. Tabrez and Ashraf were detained from Sitapur on Friday. All three were employed with knitting and weaving units.
"After sustained interrogation, the two said that Vijay told them he had indeed killed Radhika. We have not been able to nab him so far, but we will, soon," Dhaliwal said. He confirmed that Vijay did not get along well with his family members, and had not been in touch with them for many years.
