11.08.2026 13:20
In the Başkale district of Van, Damlanur Sarihan (14), who was initially claimed to have committed suicide with a Kalashnikov rifle, was revealed about 2.5 years later to have been the victim of murder; her uncles Ferdi and Sinan Sarihan, who were detained, have been arrested, while 5 others were released under judicial control.
Damlanur Sarihan, who was claimed to have committed suicide with a Kalashnikov rifle in Başkale district of Van at the age of 14, was revealed to have been murdered approximately 2.5 years later.
FOUND SHOT WITH 2 BULLETS The incident occurred on January 10, 2024, in the Başkale district. Teams were dispatched to the address upon a report that Damlanur Sarihan had committed suicide at the home of her uncle, Ferdi Sarihan. During the inspection by the teams, it was determined that Sarihan had died after being shot with 2 bullets in the abdomen. A Kalashnikov rifle was found next to Damlanur Sarihan. An investigation was launched by the Başkale Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the incident. No fingerprints were found on the weapon during the examination.
HER PHONE WAS EXAMINED In the examination of Damla Sarihan's phone, it was determined that in her messages with S.Y., who was claimed to be her boyfriend, there were statements indicating she would commit suicide 36 days earlier. S.Y.'s statement was then taken. S.Y., who confirmed the messages, stated that they had reconciled and that no issues occurred on the day of the incident.
EXECUTION CONFESSION FROM SECRET WITNESSES After the establishment of the Department for Investigating Unsolved Crimes under the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, the case was revisited. Statements from suspects and witnesses regarding the incident were also obtained. As a result of the examination and coordinated efforts, secret witnesses stated that the incident was not a suicide but a murder and execution. The investigation was deepened by evaluating the contradictory statements of family members in the case file, the detection of gunshot residue on the hand swabs of uncle Sinan Sarihan, and the fact that the weapon used in the incident was not suitable for suicide and no fingerprints could be found on it. It was also determined that a feud arose between uncle Sinan Sarihan, the relative suspect E.S., and the family after the incident. It was found that E.S. left the village with his family after the incident, and Sinan Sarihan got a new phone line, contacting E.S. first and frequently through this line.
OPERATION IN 3 PROVINCES The teams, assessing that Damlanur Sarihan was killed, imposed a secrecy order on the case and began wiretapping the suspects' phones. Following surveillance, wiretapping, and investigations, an operation was carried out in which suspect Sinan Sarihan was detained in Çerkezköy district of Tekirdağ, İ.E. in Yüksekova district of Hakkari, and other suspects Ferdi Sarihan, N.S., E.S., K.S., and the juvenile pushed to crime Z.S. in Başkale district of Van. After their interrogations, they were referred to the courthouse, where the uncles Ferdi and Sinan Sarihan were arrested, while the others were released under judicial control.