Navi Mumbai: 20-Year-Old Yashashri Shinde Found Murdered in Uran; Police Seek Untraceable Suspect

Navi Mumbai, 29th July 2024: A 20-year-old woman from Uran, identified as Yashashri Shinde, was found murdered late Friday night on an isolated road near a petrol pump in Kotnaka, Uran taluka. Shinde, whose father had reported her missing late Thursday evening, was discovered with multiple stab wounds to her waist and back, lying in a pool of blood.

Senior Inspector Rajendra Kote from Uran police station stated that Shinde was a commerce graduate and worked as a data entry operator. She had left home on Thursday morning, telling her parents she was visiting a friend’s house. When she failed to return by night, her father reported her missing.

Late Friday night, a call was received by a detection branch officer at Uran police station about a girl’s body on the road at Kotnaka, with stray dogs disturbing it. Upon arrival, the police found that Shinde’s face was severely disfigured by the dogs, who had also consumed parts of her shoulder. She had sustained three stab wounds.

The victim was identified by her parents, who recognized her from her clothing and a tattoo on her waist. Although the parents have named Dawood Shaikh as a suspect, the police have initially registered a case of murder against an unidentified individual. Shaikh, originally from Karnataka, is currently untraceable as his mobile phone is switched off.

Inspector Kote revealed that the victim’s parents suspect Shaikh of the crime, alleging that the motive may be linked to a previous legal complaint. In 2019, Shinde filed an FIR against Shaikh for molestation and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) offences, resulting in Shaikh’s arrest and imprisonment by the Uran police.