Teen found murdered, absconding fiancé arrested

 

By Barnabas Karunagari | March 23, 2026

Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: Nearly a week after a 16-year-old girl was found murdered in a deserted house in DJ Halli, Bengaluru police have arrested her 25-year-old fiancé from Rajasthan’s Ajmer, marking a significant breakthrough in the case.

The accused, identified as Syed Sabeel, a resident of Kushalnagar in KG Halli, had been on the run since the incident. He was tracked down in Ajmer and taken into custody. Police are now initiating procedures to bring him back to Bengaluru on a transit warrant for further investigation.

The victim, Joya Fathima from Kolar district, was discovered on March 17 inside a dilapidated house allegedly owned by Sabeel’s family in DJ Halli. She was found lying in a pool of blood with a deep cut injury to her throat.

According to police, the house was known to be a meeting point for the couple. Fathima frequently visited her aunt, Vajeeda Begum, in DJ Halli, during which she developed a relationship with Sabeel. The families later formalised their engagement in June last year.

Investigators said tensions had reportedly arisen between the two families after the girl continued to meet Sabeel discreetly.

On the morning of March 17, Fathima went missing from her aunt’s residence. Her mobile phone, left behind, raised immediate concern among family members. Efforts to contact Sabeel also proved unsuccessful.

Acting on information provided by Sabeel’s mother, the victim’s aunt went to the abandoned house where the couple used to meet. She discovered Fathima’s body inside the premises.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the last call made from Fathima’s phone was to Sabeel. Police said the accused is yet to be interrogated to ascertain the motive behind the crime.

“Once he is brought to Bengaluru, he will be taken into custody and questioned in detail,” a police officer said.

Further investigation is underway.