Motive behind scribe's murder unclear

A 25-year old television journalist was shot dead in her car on her way home after a late night shift. Vasant Kunj-resident Soumya Vishwanathan was working with

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as a producer.

Police said they got a call from an autorickshaw driver about the incident at 3:41 am. “Her Maruti Zen had hit the divider of the road. The front wheel on the right side was punctured. The windowpane had shattered,” said a senior officer.

Initially it looked like an accident. But the investigation took a turn when a piece of her scalp and hair were found on the back seat. Vishwanathan was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre where she was declared brought dead and the post-mortem conducted. “The post-mortem on Tuesday morning revealed that a bullet was lodged below her right earlobe,” said a senior police officer.

Forensic teams were called in to examine the car. A case of murder has been registered against unknown assailants at the Vasant Kunj Police Station.

DCP Southwest Shalini Singh said, “We have registered a case of murder and conducting further investigations into the matter.”

The police are tightlipped on the motive behind the incident and are investigating every possible angle. Soumya had been working as a journalist for the last five years.

Her father MK Vishwanathan is employed with a multinational company and mother Madhvi works with a public sector undertaking.