Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 6: A 24-year old British tourist was allegedly murdered by a Dutch tourist in a houseboat in Dal lake in Nehru Park area of Srinagar early morning today. The accused who tried to flee Kashmir in a car was arrested by police.
A senior police officer said that Sara Elizabeth used to visit Kashmir every year and stayed at a houseboat, New Beauty, owned by one Abdul Rahim Shoda. “She had arrived Kashmir last month and was staying in the same houseboat. One Dutch National David Richard, 43, who allegedly killed her too arrived in the same houseboat two days ago”, the officer added.
Sara was murdered early in the morning allegedly by Richard with a knife. She was stabbed multiple times by her killer and she died possibly of blood loss.
Police found her in a pool of blood in her room when they were called. “We found a sharp-edged knife close to her body. The woman had multiple stab wounds and she had possibly died of blood loss”, said a police officer.
The owner of the houseboat found her in a pool of blood with the door of her room broken and a Dutch tourist missing along with a boat. He immediately informed the police about the murder and police sounded an alert and all the police stations and Srinagar Airport was alerted to prevent the accused from fleeing Kashmir.
Reports said that accused had forcibly entered her room with an intention of sexual assault. However, it is not yet clear was it a simple murder or accused’s intention was sexual assault. Police have registered a case (FIR number 40/2013 under Section 302 of Ranbir Penal Code) against the accused and were waiting for the postmortem report.
Police said that David Richard after allegedly killing the British tourist escaped from the scene of crime along with his passport leaving behind his belongings. He escaped in a boat and boarded a taxi (JK02AP-2067) from the nearby Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar.
As police found that the accused took a cab to Jammu, they with the help of taxi stand called the driver and asked him to take his vehicle to police Station Qazigund. The driver followed the police instructions and police Station Qazigund arrested the tourist. He was later handed over to the Police Station Ram Munshi Bagh, Srinagar.
Police said that Richard was travelling on a passport (NY6JL5JB6). His belongings have been seized.
Sources said that British tourist was a close friend of houseboat owner’s son Saeed Ahmad. They had met 5 years ago in Goa and was since then a frequent visitor to the houseboat. Locals said that she was friendly woman and were shocked to hear about her murder.
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