Elderly woman killed in Budge Budge

An elderly woman was strangulated to death in her flat at Budge Budge in South 24-Parganas in the wee hours on Friday. Police suspected that she was killed for restricting miscreants to decamp with valuables from her house. 

Police said the victim Sumitra Jashu’s body was found in her flat early on Sunday morning. Her hands and legs were tied with pieces of clothes. Police said there was a mark around her neck. 

The incident came to light when her domestic help went to her flat and found the door open. After entering the victim’s bedroom, she found her body lying on the bed. She immediately informed the matter to Jashu’s sister Suchitra Mondal, who also stays in the same apartment. 

Hearing Suchitra’s cry, local people rushed to the flat and informed the matter to police. During the investigation, police found a cupboard open and its lock was also broken.  

An officer said that it was “a murder for gain”. The miscreants’ main motive was to decamp with valuables after tying her with clothes. However, they strangulated her when she was crying for help. They fled with valuables including jewellery, mobile and cash. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and her sister went to an NGO a few weeks ago seeking help to solve a land dispute. They came in touch with one Samrat Sen, an employee of the NGO, who started coming to the victim’s flat. He had several discussions with the victim and her sister in the flat. 

The victim’s sister told the police that Sen had visited their flat last night. Police have initiated a search operation for Sen, who is absconding. A senior police officer said they were also trying to find whether the woman was killed over property dispute and it was important to know whether any documents, related to the property, was stolen on Saturday night.