Berhampur: The police have cracked the murder of elderly woman Jambubati Sahoo, (80), whose body was found under mysterious circumstances in her house at Jemadeipentha Sahi under Bada Bazaar police limits here.
Police arrested the mastermind and two jewellers in this connection Saturday. The main accused is Santosh Senapati, (20). The two jewellers are Akash Jagatap alias Anmol, (23) and I. Dwariknath, Additional SP Trinath Patel said at a press meet.
According to sources, Santosh had earlier stolen 15 grams of gold from the house of Muna Nayak of the same colony. After coming to know of the theft, Muna instead of asking for return of the ornaments, asked Santosh to pay him Rs 1.30 lakh or else he threatened to hand him over to the police.
Left with no option, Santosh hatched a plan to commit another theft and targeted the woman. He entered the woman’s house and strangled her while she was alone June 1 and fled with 120 grams of gold ornaments. Later, he sold the gold to the two jewellers.
Based on a complaint by the deceased’s grandson Sankarshan Chaudhary, police registered a case. Police detained Santosh who confessed during interrogation.
Police seized Rs 1.93 lakh, gold jewellery and melted gold from the accused.
PNN