London:

The body of a 22-year-old Indian student missing since earlier this month has been found in a river in Scotland and her family has been informed while formal identification is awaited.

Santra Saju from Kerala was enrolled at the Heriot-Watt University in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Police Scotland said in a statement over the weekend that they were made aware of a body in a river near Newbridge, a village near Edinburgh.

“Around 11.55am on Friday, December 27, 2024, police were made aware of a body found in the water near to Newbridge,” Police Scotland said.

“Formal identification has still to take place however the family of Santra Saju, 22, has been informed. The death is not believed to be suspicious,” the police said.

The statement added that a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal, Scotland’s prosecution service and death investigation body.

Saju was last caught on CCTV at an Asda supermarket store in Almondvale, Livingston, on December 6 evening.

An urgent missing person’s appeal was issued by the police, describing Saju as being around 5 feet 6 inches in height, of Indian ethnicity, slim build, with short black hair.

She was wearing a black jacket with a fur-lined hood, beige furry earmuffs and a black facemask. Enquiries also revealed she had a black rucksack in her possession. The police appeal encouraged anyone who may recognise her to come forward with any information.

Inspector Alison Lawrie from Corstorphine Police Station said in a statement at the time: “We now know that Santra picked up a black and white shopper style bag from an address in Burnvale on Friday evening, but she did not have it when she entered the supermarket.

“The bag is distinctive and someone may remember seeing her carrying it. We are continuing to review CCTV footage and have released images of Santra from the supermarket in the hope that someone recognises her. Extensive enquiries are being carried out in an effort to trace her.” Her friends and family had said the disappearance was out of character and had become very worried for her safety. 

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The search for the 22-year student from Kerala, who went missing earlier this month in Scotland’s Edinburgh, ended tragically on Friday morning. According to local police, the body, believed to be of missing Santra Elizabeth Saju was found in the Almond River near Newbridge in Edinburgh.

“Formal identification has not yet been completed; however, the family of Santra Saju has been informed,” police said in a statement.

Police were informed of a body in the water near Newbridge around 11.55 am December 27, according to a report by The Scotsman.

Santra reportedly hailed from Perumbavoor in Kerala’s Ernakulam. She moved to the UK last year to pursue her studies at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

Per media reports, Santra went missing on December 6. She was last seen between 9:10 pm and 9:45 pm (local time) at an Asda store in Livingston, where she worked. Police had released CCTV footage of her last known sighting in which she was seen wearing a black face mask and a black winter coat.

Her friends and family described her disappearance as “very out of character” and said they were “sick with worry”.

Though the formal investigation into the case has not been completed, police said Santra’s death is not being treated as suspicious, and no third-party involvement is suspected.

A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal, police added.