New Delhi:
Two days after the murder of Delhi University student Radhika Tanwar, Delhi Police is still groping in the dark to track down her killer.
Twenty-year-old Radhika, a second-year student, was shot outside her college in Dhaula Kuan on Tuesday with a country-made gun as she was crossing a pedestrian bridge.
The man who shot Radhika knew her well, said the Delhi Police on Wednesday, as it released a sketch of him based on 'vague' descriptions given by people who saw someone running just after the murder. The suspect allegedly lives near the college students' residence and had been stalking her for three years. Radhika's family members, however, say they can't identify the man in the sketch.
"There are two to three people who have given us information on the identity. They said they didn't see the shooting but saw somebody running immediately after that, and heard the sound of a gun. On the basis of the vague identities, whatever they have seen on the basis of hair do...colour complexion etc, we have released the sketch," said HGS Dhaliwal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for South Delhi.
When Radhika was shot at around 10:20 am on Tuesday, there were hundreds of people on the busy road, but her killer managed to run away. Dhaliwal said nobody tried to rush her to hospital till a constable showed up ten minutes after the shooting, and moved her to hospital in a rickshaw. The delay may have been crucial.
The callousness that witnesses showed towards Radhika has been exacerbated by people refusing to share information on what they saw or heard.
Dhaliwal appealed to people to come forward with information. "It is unfortunate that there is no eyewitness. It is not possible that no one saw the assailant. We request eyewitnesses to come forward, so that we can get a more accurate description of the assailant, and catch (him) as soon as possible."
Dhaliwal says that questioning of the student's family and friends suggests that her murderer had tried for the last three years to harass Radhika into returning his attention and affection. The Tanwars did not file a complaint against this young man. "The boy has been following her and had discussed her with his friends. Her family had also threatened him at that time," Dhaliwal said.
On Tuesday, Radhika's brother told reporters that his family was not aware of anyone who may have had a motive for shooting her.
Radhika's grieving mother said on Wednesday that she was a cheerful and fearless girl. One of Radhika's three siblings said she aspired to someday qualify as an MBA.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit visited Radhika's family on Wednesday morning. "We told her it has been 24 hours... now we want the culprit caught," said Radhika's father. The Chief Minister assured him of prompt action and said Radhika's killing was 'a matter of grave concern'.
The police, meanwhile, have beefed up their presence in the area where Radhika was killed after massive protests by students complaining the lack of security.
Cops are guarding the entire route from the foot overbridge where Radhika was shot upto her college.
Hundreds of students in the national capital, had on Wednesday, marched from South Campus to India Gate to protest against the lack of safety for women in Delhi.
"We just don't feel safe," said one young woman. Another added, "We cannot have another Radhika."