Soumya Vishwanathan was discovered useless in her automotive with a gunshot wound on her head
New Delhi:
September 30, 2008, was simply one other day for 25-year-old journalist Soumya Vishwanathan. A information producer with Headlines Immediately, she had stayed again late to assist out with a breaking information occasion. Her work carried out, she left the Jhandewalan workplace at 3.03 am, received into her automotive and drove dwelling to Vasant Kunj. She did not know this drive could be her final, {that a} late-night theft try would brutally lower her life brief.
A Delhi courtroom yesterday convicted 5 males within the 15-year-old homicide case. 4 accused – Ravi Kapoor, Amit Shukla, Baljit Malik and Akshay Kumar — have been held responsible of homicide and loot. The fifth, Ajay Sethi, was held responsible of serving to the others.
On her method again, Soumya overtook a automotive occupied by Kapoor, Shukla, Kumar and Malik, cops who probed the case have advised information company PTI.
The 4 convicts, police stated, observed that the lady driver who overtook them was alone. They sped up and began following. First, they tried to intercept Soumya’s automotive. She didn’t cease. Kapoor then fired at her with a countrymade weapon. The bullet hit her on the top, killing her immediately. The automotive crashed in opposition to a divider on Nelson Mandela Marg, near her dwelling, and got here to a halt.
The killers fled the scene, an officer stated, however returned 20 minutes later to verify the sufferer’s situation. Once they noticed police personnel, they ran away.
Round 3.45 am, a employees of a close-by restaurant biking dwelling noticed a girl within the automotive, with its headlights and engine on. He stopped a few autos after which known as the cops. Soumya was rushed to AIIMS the place she was declared useless. Throughout their investigation, police discovered that Soumya had known as her father round 3.15 am and advised him that she was on her method. In lower than half an hour, she was useless.
Police later discovered her cellphone and pockets within the automotive.
The investigation within the case was performed by police from Delhi South district, then beneath HGS Dhaliwal, now particular commissioner of Delhi Police particular cell. Chatting with the media after the decision yesterday, the senior officer stated it was a difficult case as there was no bodily contact between the sufferer and the killers. “Solely a bullet was fired from a shifting car that hit Soumya, killing her,” he stated. The officer stated the household had additionally been supplied a CBI investigation, however they determined to stay with Delhi Police. He stated he’s comfortable that Delhi Police lived as much as the religion.
Police made a breakthrough within the Soumya Vishwanathan homicide case throughout its probe into the homicide of one other girl, Jigisha Ghosh, in 2009. Ghosh was looted and murdered on March 18, 2009. Ravi Kapoor was arrested on this connection. And through questioning, he stated they’d murdered one other girl.
Yesterday’s ruling brings some closure to Soumya’s family members.
India Immediately Information Director Rahul Kanwal, who was Soumya’s colleague on the time, was on the courtroom for the decision. “Soumya Vishwanathan was the brightest younger producer I’ve had the privilege of working with. On the night time she was murdered, Soumya had stayed again after ending the afternoon shift to assist the night time group put together for the morning present. There had been a significant terror assault and the newsroom was stretched overlaying the breaking information. Soumya was the flag-bearer of dedication and laborious work in our newsroom,” he posted on X.
“Her grotesque homicide on the best way again dwelling has haunted me for 15 years. Was full of emotion and reduction as I heard Choose Pandey pronounce all of the accused responsible in a crowded Saket courtroom this afternoon. Nothing will convey Soumya again however no less than the murderers pays for his or her crime,” he added.
After the decision, Soumya’s dad and mom Madhavi Vishwanathan and MK Vishwanathan fought again tears. Chatting with the media, Ms Vishwanathan stated, “We misplaced our daughter, however this can act as a deterrent for others in any other case they (the convicts) would have been emboldened. Not less than, one gang could be out. That is all.” She stated she desires life sentence for the convicts.
