Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Dec 31: Taking swift action in the murder case of an elderly lady at Kasba in Puttur taluk, the Puttur police, in just 38 hours of the crime coming to light, have succeeded in arresting the accused.
Vinodini (77) had been found dead with her hands and legs tied and mouth gagged at her rented house in Karadka Compund on Thursday December 29. She was living along in this house for the last eight years. Her chain and earrings, both of gold weighing about 30 grams, worth Rs 50,000 had been taken away.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday December 31, superintendent of police (SP) Bhushan G Borase said that after investigating in detail the persons who had visited the victim before the crime, the Puttur police zeroed-in on Laxman Nayak (32), a resident of Mittanadka of Karopady in Bantwal taluk, and arrested him.
During investigation, the police learnt from the locals that Laxman had visited Vinodini on December 23 evening. Laxman was detained and during interrogation, he admitted to murdering the lady and snatching away her gold ornaments. The ornaments were later recovered.
The SP further sad that Laxman is a coolie worker who also does painter's job. He had known Vinodini from several years and was in constant contact with her during the past two years. He was also into the business of brokering rental houses for people, and knew that Vinodini stayed alone. After he met with a rickshaw accident last year, it had become difficult for Laxman to undertake heavy coolie work, hence he started taking up minor painting jobs in Puttur, Vittal and Mangaluru and brokering house deals. He had lately become an alcoholic, and as he had no money, he planned to murder Vinodini and steal her gold, the SP said.
"About 15 days ago, Vinodini happened to meet Laxman in Puttur town and asked him to repair a fan in her house. With this as an excuse, Laxman visited Vinodini on December 23 evening and engaged in trivial talk with her. At around 8.30 pm, he caught hold of her head and bludgeoned her with a sickle that was in the house. In order to choke her, he gagged her with her saree, tied her hands and legs and left her lifeless body in the house, and snatched away her mobile phone and the ornaments she had worn. He then looked around for more gold and money, and escaped after locking the front door from the inside," the SP said.
"The murder came to light on December 29, and the same day the police visited the spot. Laxman was arrested on December 31 near KSRTC bus stand in Puttur. We have recovered the stolen mobile phone, gold ornaments, and the weapon used for the crime," he added.
The SP lauded the Puttur police for having solved the murder case within 38 hours.
Moving on to other issues, SP Borase said that the newly-launched 'Gruha Suraksha' app has already received 125 calls since December 21. Out of them, some called merely to enquire about the service. Nine persons from Mangaluru city availed the service, among who five have returned to their homes.
The SP also urged the citizens to celebrate New Year without creating any public nuisance and urged everyone not to drink and drive.
ASP Rishyanth Kumar and others were present.