9 Murders, All Women, Same Pattern — Bareilly Police In UP Stare At Serial Killing Spree

Nine women have been strangled in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh in the past 14 months. The police suspect that a serial killer is on the loose.

Bareilly Serial Killer: The unsolved murders of at least nine women in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly in 14 months are proving to be a major headache for the UP Police. The murders, which appear to be a case of serial killing, are getting complicated by the day. The unsolved murders have instilled terror in the hearts of the women in the villages in Bareilly, where safety has become a big concern. The police have now released three sketches of suspects to help people identify clues to trace the 'serial killer'. 

SP of Bareilly South Manush Pareek said the sketches were released based on the police's investigation in connection with the bodies of women found earlier in the Shahi area in Bareilly. The police have also released specific phone numbers for the public to call if they have any information on the case.

Nine Women Strangulated In 14 Months

The nine murders were within a 25 km radius, according to The Times of India. The murders that began in June last year had quite a few similarities leading the police to believe that a serial killer or killers were on the prowl. The victims, all aged between 45 and 55, were strangled in fields in deserted areas. Other tell-tale patterns that point towards serial killing are that the murders were committed around noon and there were no signs of sexual assault.

All the women were strangled with their saris. The motive of the murders is still unclear.

Another Woman Found Dead Under Suspicious Circumstances

Shergarh resident 45-year-old Anita Devi is suspected to be the latest victim of the serial murderer. However, she could also have been a victim of a robbery gone wrong. She was found dead on July 3 with her sari tied in a noose around her neck. Anita had gone to her maternal home Khirka village in Fatehganj West on July 2.

She stepped out of her place saying she was going to deposit some cash at the bank. Anita used to go to the bank every few months to deposit money. Police are now investigating all angles.

SP Manush Pareek said police teams have been deployed in plain clothes as well as in uniform have also been deployed. Checkpoints have also been set up at various points to look for the suspects.