NEW DELHI: The police are looking for former Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress chief, Sushil Sharma, identified as the prime suspect in the gory murder and burning of a woman in a Ashok Yatri Niwas restaurant. The present whereabouts of Sharma are not known but he is believed to be in Chandigarh. Ina related development, the police also searched the house of a woman, identified as Naina Sahni, a former NSUI general secretary who has been missing since July 2nd. The police has found blood stains on the mattresses on the double bed kept there ~and on the carpet. The police said that the woman _ whose burnt body was recovered from «the Tandoor at Bagia restaurant could ‘be that of Naina, although this had not ‘been confirmed as yet. ‘The parents of Naina had been unable to identify the victim as their daughter. They have, however, told the police that they had last seen their daughter on a Friday. She had told them over the telephone that she was going to Manali with Sharma, _ Also, the Maruli car apparently used by the suspects to carry the body of the woman to Ashok Yatri Niwas was recovered from near Malcha Marg market on a Tuesday morning, The car reportedly belonging to Sushil Sharma, was found abandoned and locked. Inside the car the police found a ladies wrist watch and some strands of hair. According to Dr. Arya, a clear picture would only emerge after Sharma ‘was located and gave his statement to the police. Several other people connected with Bagia Restaurant, including its employees and partners, have been questioned by the police and further arrests were likely in the near future, he added Naina was an active worker of the ‘National Students’ Union of India in 198384, when she was introduced to Sushil Sharma by a friend, now working a correspondent with a Delhi based newspaper. In 1986, Sushil Sharma, who became president of Delhi NSUI, nominated her as the state general secretary. ‘He was also said to have “married” Naina and she left her parent’s home in Patel Nagar and moved into a flat in Gol Market in 1972.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 7, 1995