A 20-year-old nursing student was reportedly killed by her boyfriend at a hotel in Chennai, who then shared a picture of the deceased on his WhatsApp status, India police said on Saturday.

Chennai is a city located in the southern part of India.

India Today reports that the murder was discovered when friends of the victim saw the WhatsApp status of the accused, Ashiq.

The police discovered her body in a hotel room where the couple was staying after her friends alerted officials.

According to authorities, the deceased, a second-year nursing student, has been involved in a five-year relationship with the accused individual. The couple recently rented a room in the city and have been residing together.

After missing classes for three days, the victim’s friends made inquiries and discovered Ashiq had come to Chennai and had booked a hotel room for the both of them

However, they were shocked when they discovered the distressing image of the deceased woman displayed as Ashiq’s WhatsApp status.

The Chennai Police launched a search operation that led to the discovery of her lifeless body in a private hotel. They have also successfully apprehended Ashiq after analysing the CCTV footage in the vicinity.

The accused has reportedly confessed to committing the crime during interrogation. According to reports by local media, the accused revealed that a heated argument ensued between him and the victim, as she accused him of being involved in a romantic relationship with another woman. Provoked, Ashiq allegedly strangled her to death using his t-shirt.

The couple even had a baby in their teens that they had given up for adoption, according to police sources who spoke with India Today.