Uzbek woman's murder probe unravels flesh trade

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: The Sheshadripuram police said that they have found vital clues regarding an international human trafficking and prostitution network while probing the murder of a 27-year-old woman from Uzbekistan, a few weeks ago in the city.

Zarina DJeparova, was found murdered at a hotel room in Bengaluru on the night of March 13.

Investigating the case, the police arrested two house keeping staff members identified as Robert and Amruth, of the same hotel.

The accused hailed from Charaideo district of Assam, the police said. Continuing their probe, the city police collected more details of the murdered woman during which they found links to a largescale prostitution enterprise that allegedly brought women to India to work in the sex trade.

The link was established after the police retrieved Zarina's mobile phone and checked her Call Detail Record (CDR).

Based on the details, another person was arrested after it was found that he had paid Rs 7,000 to a person identified as Rahul.

According to sources, Rahul was acting as an agent and is suspected of calling Zarina to Bengaluru and arranging for her accomodation here.

Following the murder, a case was registered against several people including the hotel owner and the suspect, by the Sheshadripuram Police.

Sources from the police revealed that Zarina had visited Bengaluru more than 20 times before her murder.

Hotel Staffers, Robert and Amruth, thought Zarina was carrying a huge amount of cash with her and decided to steal the money.

However when she resisted, the duo allegedly strangled her to death and fled from the city.