Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A 20-year-old Indian national has been arrested in Germany after allegedly strangling his 19-year-old girlfriend in Arizona and attempting to flee the United States. According to US media reports, Varun Batchigari is suspected of first-degree murder in the death of college student Julissa Rubi Salazar, who was found dead inside her apartment near the University of Arizona in Tucson on Thursday.
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Police said Salazar’s family requested a welfare check after becoming concerned about her. Officers who arrived at the apartment at around 4 PM (local time) found the teenager unresponsive with signs of trauma, according to the Tucson Police Department.
Investigators subsequently identified Batchigari, Salazar’s boyfriend, as the prime suspect. According to KOLD, detectives believe he took Salazar’s phone and credit cards and sent several messages to her mother.
POLICE TRACE SUSPECT TO GERMANY
The search for Batchigari began after police discovered he had fled Tucson. He travelled to Tucson International Airport and boarded a flight to Houston. From there, he took another flight bound for Berlin, Germany. Authorities believe he was attempting to make his way back to India.
An arrest warrant was issued as investigators tracked his movements. The Tucson Police Department said Arizona authorities worked with federal agents to locate and detain Batchigari after he arrived in Germany. He is expected to be extradited to Arizona, where he will face a first-degree murder charge and be booked into Pima County Adult Detention.
GIRLFRIEND PLANNED TO END RELATIONSHIP
The case has also drawn attention to Batchigari’s relationship with Salazar and the allegations of abuse surrounding it. According to KOLD, Salazar had been planning to end the relationship after experiencing sexual assault and abusive behaviour.
Her roommates had reportedly become concerned days before her death after hearing loud screaming coming from Salazar’s room on August 5. The roommates later contacted her to check whether she was safe. They received a response saying she was fine and that the incident had only been an argument.
Investigators are also looking into allegations involving Batchigari’s previous conduct. According to records cited by The New York Post, he had an open criminal case in Pima County Court involving an allegation of assault — knowingly causing injury — filed on May 26. One woman also reportedly told investigators that Batchigari had sexually assaulted her on Halloween, although she did not report the alleged incident at the time.
UNIVERSITY STUDENT WITH TROUBLED RECORD
Batchigari had been studying business analytics at the University of Arizona. However, his time at the university was reportedly cut short after he was expelled following a fight. He also had a history of domestic violence allegations, according to reports.
The case has raised further questions about his circumstances in the weeks before Salazar’s death. Batchigari had recently lost his job, which affected his ability to pay rent and put his immigration status at risk. Authorities have not said whether those circumstances played a role in the killing or his decision to leave the United States.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
