The Hindu : New Delhi News : 21-year-old girl murdered in her bedroom

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Friday, Jan 18, 2008
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New Delhi

21-year-old girl murdered in her bedroom

Staff Reporter

Family business manager in police custody after middle-of-the-night attack

MURDERED: 21-year-old Surabhi Kapoor

NEW DELHI: A 21-year-old girl was knifed and bludgeoned to death in cold blood allegedly by a “trusted” hand of her family in upmarket Rajdhani Enclave at Pitampura here in the early hours of Thursday.

The girl’s parents also suffered head injuries when they tried to nab the accused who according to the police had robbery on his mind. He was eventually overpowered by the family and handed over to the police.

According to the police, 32-year-old Pawan Kumar, who had been looking after the Kapoors’ cable business for over a decade, sneaked into the house on Wednesday evening and hid in a corner. Around 3 a.m. when the family was fast asleep, he decided to strike and made his way up the stairs armed with a hammer and a knife.

Young Surabhi, an air hostess diploma course student, was roused by the noise and raised an alarm. Fearing capture, Pawan allegedly attacked her with a knife and hammer, injuring her seriously.

Parents also assaulted

Hearing the commotion, Surabhi’s father Dinesh Kapoor and mother Seema Kapoor rushed upstairs where they were also assaulted.

Surabhi subsequently was declared brought dead at Maharaja Agarsen Hospital. Her father is still admitted to hospital with serious head injuries while her mother was discharged after first-aid.

Sanjay Bhupal, a family friend of the Kapoors, presented a different version of the incident. According to him, Pawan entered the girl’s room in an inebriated state and allegedly stabbed and bludgeoned her. “He then hid himself in the bathroom waiting for an opportunity to flee. When Surabhi’s mother entered the bathroom in the morning to switch on the water booster, Pawan attacked her, injuring her grievously. He had painted his face black and was wearing a monkey cap and gloves,” said Mr. Bhupal.

“He had been looking after the cable business of the family and was entrusted with the task of depositing and withdrawing money from the bank. If he had his eyes on the money, he could have made off with it any time,” said Mr. Bhupal.

Pawan, who is married and lived in the Shakurpur slum cluster, had been sacked by the Kapoors on four occasions for alleged misappropriation.

Surabhi was cremated on Thursday evening after post-mortem.

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