The Hindu : 70-year-old woman found murdered

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

70-year-old woman found murdered

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 25. In yet another incident of a senior citizen proving to be a soft target, a 70-year-old woman was found murdered in her house at Sarojini Nagar in South-West Delhi today. The police suspect robbery to be the motive and also believe that somebody known to the victim was involved in the incident.

According to the police, the incident came to light when Anil, son of Raj Rani, a resident of Arjun Nagar in Sarojini Nagar, reached home from Gurgaon around 9 a.m. He found the door locked from inside. When he got no response after repeated knocks, he peeped in through the ventilator and saw the body of his mother lying on the floor. He then informed the police. The police had to break open the door. While there were no injury marks on the body of the victim, they believe she was smothered to death. There was no major ransacking in the house, but a suitcase had been opened. Some jewellery and cash was reported to be missing, the police said. However, sources pointed out that the missing cash could well be over Rs. 1 lakh.

The police believe that somebody known to the victim was involved in the incident. "The internal lock on the main door was locked and the keys were found missing. It is possible that the assailant took the keys with him," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West), Tejender Luthra. It was not clear if Raj Rani, who used to live alone, had hired any permanent or part-time domestic help.

Sources said the manner of the killing suggested that the assailant had a definite idea about the presence of a huge amount of cash and jewellery and it could well be the handiwork of a domestic help.

Investigations so far have revealed that Raj Rani's husband, Bansilal Raizada, a tehsildar in Delhi government, had died way back in 1960. Raj Rani was given a job in his place and was posted as an officer in the Social Welfare Department of the Delhi Government, from where she retired long ago.

In the course of time, Raj Rani sold the old house, which too was located in Arjun Nagar, and bought the second floor house in which she used to live alone. Anil, who used to ply RTVs for ferrying school children, lived in Gurgaon along with his wife and children. He used to bring food for Raj Rani and also spend sometime with her almost every day. Sources claimed that Raj Rani was actually planning to leave the present house and settle in the native village of her husband at Panipat in Haryana.

The police said while security of senior citizens was a matter for concern, they are safest when they live with the family. Mr. Luthra said had the woman been living with her family in Gurgaon, the tragedy could have been avoided.

Meanwhile, the Sarojini Nagar police have registered a case of murder and robbery and are investigating further.

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