LAHORE, Aug 20: The Punjab University College of Information Technology’s student was raped before being strangulated, confirms an initial autopsy report here on Sunday. Her body was found in Defence last week.

Sources told Dawn that a significant development had taken place as the deceased’s neighbour appeared to be the prime suspect. They said the boy, along with the whole family, had disappeared after the incident.

Prior to this development, the police investigation team had arrested her two class fellows — Adnan and Arsalan. It also took Arsalan’s girl friend ‘K’ into custody on the information of the deceased’s father that she had given her death threats for not quitting her relations with Arsalan.

However, nothing had been established against them so far. During investigation, sources said, the team had found another clue leading to the involvement of the girl’s neighbour.

Nida Nisar, 21, a student of third semester, left the college after attending all the lectures on Tuesday last with unknown person(s). After some 11 hours of her disappearance, her body was found in a plot covered in mattress and her cosmetics, college card, shoes, notebook and handbag were lying alongside her body when the police reached the spot.

Her father Dr Nisar Ahmad, a resident of Allama Iqbal Town, called Adnan and Arsalan as prime suspects. He said they were her best friends and often dropped her home. —Zulqernain Tahir