A 25-year-old call centre employee was found strangled at her paying guest accommodation in Gautam Nagar, South Delhi, late Wednesday afternoon. The victim, Shalini Saxena, was strangulated with the wire of her cellphone (Nokia) charger.

The police said her clothes were in disarray, which leads them to suspect the involvement of a “love angle”. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal, however, said there were no injuries indicating any struggle or sexual assault.

The police said Saxena was alone at the PG when the incident occurred — her roommate found the body on her return home at 4.45 pm. The room, police officials said, was not locked: the roommate walked straight in, before running out screaming in fright. A bystander then called the police.

The area houses many students and working women, who stay primarily as paying guests.

“The entry into the room was friendly and we suspect someone who knew the victim murdered her,” DCP Dhaliwal said. “A case of murder has been registered as of now; the matter is being probed further.”

He said the police have not detained or arrested anyone till now.

A senior officer said, “We have recovered some letters from her room and are scanning them. We are also looking at all recent phone calls and text messages sent out and received on her phone.”

According to the police, Saxena worked at a call centre in Gurgaon and had been staying as a paying guest at E-69/1, Gautam Nagar, for the past six months. The PG accommodation is on the first floor, and three girls each stay in the two rooms.

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