Mumbai: The Palghar Police have claimed that Haridas Nirgude (21), arrested on Monday for allegedly strangling his friend to death, said during interrogation that he panicked when she became unwell and refused to leave his house. They claimed he confessed to killing her while trying to force her out.
Ankita More (20) was found unconscious on the staircase outside the accused’s ground-floor residence in Tanya Monarch building, Nalasopara on Sunday. She was declared ‘dead before admission’ at a local hospital. Mr. Nirgude was arrested after the victim’s cell phone and wallet were found by the police in his residence.
According to officers at Tulinj police station, where the offence was registered, Mr. Nirgude and Ms. More met on Facebook six months ago, and he invited her to his residence on February 18. To keep the appointment, they added, Ms. More didn’t tell her parents that she was planning to visit him.
Police Inspector K.D. Kolhe, Tulinj police station, said, “Mr. Nirgude has said in his interrogation that he and Ms. More had intercourse, after which she started bleeding and feeling dizzy. She asked him to take her to a doctor, saying she feared her parents would find out the truth if she went home in this condition. Mr. Nirgude claims he started panicking as his sister was due to return home at any moment, and tried to force the victim out. When she resisted, he strangled her with a shoelace.”
The accused allegedly dragged Ms. More’s body out of the house and left it on the staircase leading into the building, where it was found by a resident. According to the police, he claimed he was afraid his sister would drive him out of her house if she found out. Mr. Kolhe added that the post mortem examination had confirmed intercourse as well as death due to asphyxia. Police have also recovered a bloodstained bed sheet from the accused’s residence.
Police said Mr. Nirgude was employed as a salesman with a gift shop in Nalasopara, while Ms. More worked in a departmental store. They met on Facebook around six months ago, and in person on Sunday for the first time. The accused has been booked for murder, and his interrogation will continue, police said.
