Cops showed technical prowess in the arrest of Swathi’s assailant from a village in Tirunelveli by tracking mobile numbers

When the Government Railway Police began investigation into the murder many thought the culprit will be in the net in a day or two. Even as days rolled, there was not much headway in the probe. Then the ‘challenging’ case was shifted transferred to Chennai police. 

A special team that took up the probe released the first CCTV clip of the suspect, Ramkumar (24), and sought information from the public. As the clip was too blurred, days later a better photograph of the suspect was released. 

Simultaneously, inquiries were being conducted with parents, who told cops  about a stalker Swathi had complained of. But, the stalker’s whereabouts and identity continued to be a mystery. When visual evidences failed to help, police relied on technology to crack the case. They picked up all the cell phone numbers, which were active in Nungambakkam at the time of the crime, from a nearby tower and Swathi’s missing mobile phone was also brought under surveillance. 

The police found out that it was switched on somewhere at Sourashtra Nagar about half-an-hour after the murder. But it was again switched off. Police traced the tower location of one of the numbers that was found on the mansion records in Ramkumar’s name with his Tirunelveli address. 

Then the special team along with Tirunelveli police rounded up Ramkumar’s house. On seeing the cops, he attempted suicide by slitting his throat with a sickle. However, he was saved and taken to Tirunelveli GH. Sithi Athiya Munawara, GH Dean, said that the cut was 3 cms wide and it was a tissue level injury. Totally, 18 stitches were given. It would take two days for him to speak and policemen can take him into custody after that.