The Hindu : British woman found dead

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Saturday, Oct 04, 2003

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British woman found dead

By Our Staff Correspondent

Shimla Oct. 3. The Kullu police have registered a case of murder and booked four people, including two Irish nationals, in connection with the alleged killing of 25-year-old Anna Hamilton Wathland, a British national whose body was found floating in the Beas river on Thursday.

The police today could arrest only one suspect, Lotram Negi, owner of Negi Guest House in Vashist village, 3 km from Manali, where Anna was staying since September 28. Two Irish citizens, James Frank and Breathnach Adrin, and a Nepalese worker who is also believed to have stolen Rs. 24,000 are still missing, according to police sources in Manali.

The police were earlier suspecting it to be a case of suicide as some letters from friends motivating Anna for not ending her life were found among her belongings. She was reported to be under severe depression. According to Kullu police, examination of her anti-mortem injuries during autopsy has suggested that she had been murdered before she was thrown into the Beas. There were injury marks on the back of her head and heavy swelling below the right eye. During investigations the police found that all four suspects had liquor and tranquillisers on the Wednesday night before disposing of the woman's body into the Beas. Empty bottles of drugs and a "chillum" were also found in her belongings.

The British woman had come to India on September 15 and reached Kullu-Manali last week. She was a citizen of 37 London City, St. Rehmum, Southend - Essex. Her passport bore No. 085005933 and the Visa No. 222749. The police have informed the British High Commission.

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British woman found dead