# Indian student held in Germany for killing US girlfriend

2026-08-09T13:54:00+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

An Indian national, Varun Batchigari, 20, has been arrested in Germany for the murder of his girlfriend Julissa Rubi Salazar, 19, in Tucson, Arizona. Police found Salazar dead in her apartment on August 6 with strangulation marks. Batchigari allegedly took her phone and bank cards, flew to Houston and then to Berlin, intending to return to India. He faces charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Salazar planned to break up with Batchigari after alleged past sexual assault, the Hindustan Times reports. He had been expelled from the University of Arizona after a fight, had an open assault case, and had lost his job. Batchigari is in German custody awaiting extradition to Arizona.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/indian-student-accused-of-killing-girlfriend-in-us-she-planned-to-break-up-held-in-germany-101786269218353.html>
- livemint.com <https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/indian-national-arrested-in-germany-after-allegedly-strangling-girlfriend-in-arizona-and-fleeing-us-report-11786279533216.html>

Tags: Arizona, domestic violence, extradition, indian-student, murder
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