Girl found smothered to death

Mehak reached home at around 2.30 pm to find the tiny room in chaos. Clothes, shoes, books and bags were thrown all over the bed and floor. 8220;Everything was scattered. I thought Rati had done it, as shehad been saying she wanted to move somewhere else. I started calling out to her but there was no response.8221;

Mehak next discovered the body. 8220;I was walking around the room when I saw feet sticking out from under the bed. It was Rati. I shook her but there was no response. I started screaming and ran out of the room, and called the only friend of hers I knew: Abbas.8221;

Abbas Ali runs a leather store at the Ashoka Hotel and is apparently a close friend of Rati8217;s. He sat on the dark spiral staircase outside Rati8217;s room, cellular phone in one hand, head in the other. 8220;I have known her for around 2 years. She used to work for me at my shop. She said she was from Delhi, but needed a place to stay as her father was dead, mother is in Rome and brother in an orphanage in Daryaganj. She used to stay in GK-II and then we found this place. I rushed here as soon as I heard.8221;

If Mehak is to be believed, then Abbas took his time getting there. 8220; I called him at least 4 to 5 times at home.He said he would comesoon. I finally dialled 100.8221;

Rati had been smothered to death. There were no other external injuries on her, except for a small spot of blood on her chest. According to a senior police official,8220;She was smothered and only after that were her hands and legs tied. From her clothes, it doesn8217;t appear as if she was molested. We will get a clearer picture after the post-mortem report.8221;

A senior official also said that the room had been ransacked to give the appearance of a robbery, but the only item missing was a small music system. Policemen proceeded to take out sequined clothes Mehak said they cost around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 each, leather bags, fancy shoes and jewellry from Rati8217;s cupboard. An official said, 8220;It is definitely not a robbery. Even if these jewels are costume, their value must be Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per set. None of her things was touched. There is a personal motive.8221;

Given the fact that Mehak and Rati shared the same room for four months, the former didn8217;t know anything abouther room mate. 8220;She was very good to me. In fact, even this morning she made me tea. She told me her family was in Delhi. We got along well and she kept the room clean. She would often even wash my clothes. I didn8217;t know anything else about her.8221;

Landlady Sushil Gandhi said, 8220;We never interfered in their lives. My husband, his four brothers and our families live here, but no one heard or saw anything. There is a separate entrance and anyone can come and leave without being seen.8221;

Apparently Rati did have a visitor today. According to the police, a well-dressed youth, smoking Classic cigarettes, was seen walking up and down the stairs around 3 to 4 times.