Indian woman killed in US stabbing; ex-boyfriend accused of murder absconds to India

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): A young Indian healthcare professional was stabbed to death inside an apartment in the US state of Maryland. Police said an international search is underway for the woman's ex-boyfriend, who fled the country to India just hours after she was reported missing.

According to Howard County police, the body of 27-year-old Nikita Godishla of Ellicott City was found in an apartment in Columbia on January 3. The apartment is believed to belong to her former partner, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, also from India. Police have charged him with first- and second-degree murder. US agencies are attempting to locate and arrest Arjun after it was confirmed he had flown to India.

Police said Arjun Sharma reported Nikita missing on January 2. He said he last saw her at his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road on December 31. Police later learned that Arjun Sharma left the United States for India that same day.

On January 3, police searched the apartment, where Nikita's body was found with stab wounds. Police believe she was murdered shortly after 7 p.m. on December 31, New Year's Eve. Investigators said the investigation is ongoing and no motive has yet been revealed.

Howard County police said an arrest warrant was issued for Arjun Sharma after the body was found. Efforts are underway to apprehend him.

According to Nikita's LinkedIn profile, she was a healthcare and data analytics professional. She had experience in pharmacy, clinical research, health information technology, and data management. Her goal was to improve healthcare services and patient outcomes through data. She had a strong knowledge of analytics, regulatory compliance, and healthcare quality systems.

He had a master's degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India.

According to US law, first-degree murder involves premeditated planning, while second-degree murder applies to intentional killings that involve no premeditated planning. It's worth noting that the US and India have an extradition treaty, which allows for cooperation in cases of serious crimes. However, such a process involves court review and diplomatic coordination, and often takes several months.