According to the report, the blood stains found on a frying pan, curtains, the knives which were used to stab her, clothes and the floor are Group A (Shivani's blood group). The CFSL report has, however, not mentioned anything about the Rhesus (Rh) Factor -- negative or positive.

No blood stains have been found on the towel, contrary to earlier reports. The CFSL report states that dirt on the towel -- which was found in a bucket of water two days after Shivani was found murdered -- gave the impression that it carried blood stains. Chemical analysis has ruled this out.

Crime Branch officials said the CFSL report has not given any leads, but has created more confusion. ``The report doesnot rule out the possibility that Shivani's assailant could have the same blood. We don't understand why the CFSL have not said anything about the Rhesus (Rh) Factor,'' said a senior official.

He added: ``The confirmation of blood stains on the curtain, nevertheless, indicate that Shivani was probably attacked in the kitchen from behind. The assailant(s) seem to have strangled her first and then stabbed her, before dragging her into the bedroom. The curtain near the bedroom door probably caught the stains.''

Investigators had hoped that the CFSL report would help piece together some of the murder leads. They still suspect that Shivani could have used the frying pan in self-defence and even managed to land a few blows on her assailant(s) before he or they snatched it from her.

The Delhi police teams camping in Chandigarh, on the other hand, have ascertained that none of the fingerprints found in Shivani's house match those of hired killers maintained in the police files there. The teams have been campingthere since January 24.

``We are quite sure that Shivani was killed by someone who was not unknown. But we want to eliminate all possibilities,'' said a police official.