A chilling case of murder and suspected robbery has shaken the New Garia Cooperative Housing Society. This comes after a 79-year-old woman, Bijaya Das, was found dead in her two-storey bungalow early Friday morning. Her 83-year-old husband, Prasanta Das, was discovered alive but tied up. The man was found in a state of shock in a bedroom on the ground floor.
Gruesome Discovery by Domestic Help
According to reports the crime came to light around 5:45 AM when the couple’s long-time maid, Madhumita Haldar, arrived. She found no response at the front door. The doorbell was non-functional, prompting her to try the rear entrance. She found the back door entrance latched from outside, a suspicious anomaly.
Upon entering the darkened house, Madhumita discovered Bijaya lying unresponsive near the staircase. He had visible head and facial injuries. She immediately raised an alarm and contacted the family.
Husband Bound, CCTV Disabled
After receiving the information, the responding officers of Panchasayar Police Station reached the scene by 6:25 AM. They found Prasanta Das tied up on the floor beside his bed. He was administered saline and later shifted to a relative’s home. Investigators found that several electrical wires, including those linked to the doorbell and CCTV system, were cut. This indicated a planned attempt to disable security surveillance.
Suspects Arrested, Ayah Missing
The police suspect two involved, Ashalata Sardar (36) and Md. Jalal Mir (41). Both have been arrested by the police. Ashalata was apprehended from her Narendrapur residence, while Jalal was arrested earlier from Dholahat. Meanwhile, police are on the lookout for a caregiver or ‘ayah’ who had recently been hired through an agency.
Reports suggest that she joined on August 17, was absent for three days, and returned on August 2, the day before the murder. CCTV footage shows her entering the house on Thursday morning, with no recordings after 7:12 AM. This suggests that the system was disabled shortly after her arrival.
Medical Conditions and Motive for Robbery
Bijaya, who had recently suffered severe burns, and her husband, who had undergone surgery, were largely immobile. Their daughter, speaking from Germany, revealed they needed frequent medical care. Police are probing if large sums of money sent by the children for treatment became a motive for the crime. Investigators noted the house was ransacked and ornaments worn by Bijaya were missing.
A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and the body is being held in accordance with government protocols until the arrival of relatives. Forensic and homicide experts have been deployed to determine the timeline and cause of death, while police await the chance to question Prasanta and the missing caregiver for further leads.
Similar incident Reported
In a similarly shocking incident, the Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi uncovered a complex web of affairs, inheritance disputes, and a jewellery theft all in one family. All this was linked to the murder of 54-year-old Sushila Devi, revealed police. The complicated series of the incidents led to the arrest of the victim’s daughter-in-law, Pooja Jatav. Along with Pooja, her sister Kamla, and Kamla’s lover, Anil Verma were also arrested by the Police. All three are now under Police custody.