3 women found dead in Hyderabad hotels, raising questions over guest safety

Within a span of just 13 days, three women were found dead in hotel rooms in three separate incidents across Hyderabad. The police investigation into these cases are still ongoing, the police are heavily reliant on CCTV footage for solving these crimes.

The third and the latest murder was reported on October 2, from Miyapur, where Komati Srijana, a 27-year-old postgraduate medical student, was found dead in her hotel room. Police registered a murder case based on a complaint from her family and are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to Inspector of Police N. Jayaram, In Srijana Case, “We found CCTV footage and other evidence which will be submitted to the court. We are currently tracing the accused and continuing the investigation to identify and apprehend him,”.

The case came days after the death of B. Sirisha at a hotel in SR Nagar on September 29. Police said Sirisha had checked into the hotel with a man identified as A. Srinivas. According to investigators, the two allegedly used forged Aadhaar cards with different names while checking-in.

Jayaram further said that in Srijana case no use of fake Aadhaar cards for hotel entry verification has been found so far. However, if any negligence by the management is found during the investigation, We will take action against those responsible.

Earlier, on September 21, Sharon Nikitha Topno, 29, was found unconscious in a hotel room in Madhapur after checking in with a man. She was taken to a hospital but was declared dead. Police registered a murder case after finding injuries on her face and later arrested the man accompanying her.

In the meantime, the Telangana Hotels Association President said hotel management must put guest safety first and strictly follow all rules and regulations. He further urged the government and police to take strict action against establishments violating safety norms.

The three cases raised questions about the safety measures followed by hotels and lodges, particularly those operating through online hotel-booking platforms.

CCTV footage is an important part of the investigation in the recent cases. This raised questions about whether hotels regularly check their CCTV cameras, ensure they are working properly and preserve recordings for a sufficient period.