An urgent international manhunt is underway for a man from Maryland in the United States, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend before fleeing the country for India.
The Discovery of a Fatal Attack
Howard County police have issued an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, charging him with first and second-degree murder in connection with the death of 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala. Investigators believe the fatal attack occurred at Sharma's apartment in Columbia on New Year's Eve, 31 December.
According to authorities, officers discovered Godishala's body inside the apartment on the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road after obtaining a search warrant. She was found to have suffered multiple stab wounds, with detectives estimating the time of death as shortly after 7 pm on December 31.
A Suspect's Disappearance and International Flight
The investigation took a dramatic turn when police learned the suspect had left the United States. Howard County police spokesman Seth Hoffman stated that "there was obviously some level of premeditation involved, given the sequence of events and the suspect's departure from the country."
Police revealed that Sharma had contacted emergency services on Friday, 2 January, to report his ex-girlfriend missing. Authorities now believe that after making that call, he travelled to Dulles International Airport in Virginia and boarded a flight to India.
Sharma had previously told officers he last saw Godishala at his apartment on New Year's Eve. Police confirmed there were no prior recorded incidents involving the pair at that location.
Global Cooperation and Ongoing Investigation
Howard County police confirmed they are now working with federal law enforcement agencies and international partners to locate and apprehend Sharma. If he is taken into custody in India or another foreign nation, complex extradition proceedings are likely to follow.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. It is also not yet known if a weapon was recovered from the apartment scene. Police have emphasised that Sharma will be returned to Howard County to face trial if he is apprehended.
This case highlights the challenges of cross-border criminal investigations and the lengthy legal processes involved in international extradition for serious crimes such as murder.
