Tragedy strikes Karnataka: young woman found burnt, sexual assault suspected

On Tuesday in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district, a 20-year-old girl found who was partially burnt. She was identified as Varshitha, a second-year BA student at the Government Women’s First Grade College. She lived in SC/ST hostel and had left her hostel by submitting a leave application on August 14.

According to reports, her phone was switched off and never returned after leaving the hostel that day. The victim’s parents, Tippeswamy and Jyothi, were about to file a missing complaint for their daughter when police called them to the district hospital, where they identified her remains.

Investigators believe the victim was sexually assaulted before being killed. Initial findings suggest her body was set on fire deliberately to destroy crucial evidence. A case of rape and murder has been registered at the Chitradurga Rural Police Station. During the investigation, police found that Varshitha was in a relationship with a man who could be an important link to the case.

The police are currently investigating and awaiting the post-mortem reports, collecting forensic evidence, reviewing CCTV footage, and analyzing missing persons data. DYSP Dinakar and PI Muddu Raj are actively handling the case.