Mangaluru: In a brisk operation, the police nabbed a man in connection to the murder case of a lone septuagenarian in Puttur.
Vinodini 77 was found dead in her residence in a remote village of Kasaba in Puttur on December 29. Acting briskly, within 38 hours of the crime coming to light, the police nabbed coolie worker turned broker Laxman Nayak (32), a resident of Mittadka of Bantwal taluk.
Vinodini was living alone in her rented house at Karadka compound. When pungent smell started emanating from the house on Thursday, the neighbours grew suspicious and tried to peep into the house. This is when she was found dead inside the locked house and her hands and legs were also tied. Her ornaments were missing.
Superintendent of Police Bhushan Borase said that Laxman was the last person to have visited her on December 23. Vinodini trusted Laxman and the latter only made use of the trust. It is said that some days back, when Vinodini met Laxman in the village, she urged him to come to her house to repair the fan.
Laxman, personally was suffering because after an accident he could not venture out to do coolie work and hence he had started small time brokering of houses. He also had started taking painting contract. But, this did not help him much. Laxman had also turned alcoholic and was always in need for money.
When Vinodini called him home, Laxman had instantly planned to kill her and with this idea he met her at her residence on December 23 and engaged her in talk. Seizing the opportunity, he first slashed her with a sickle, tied her hands and legs and then strangled her to death and fled with the ornaments. He also locked the house from outside while fleeing.
Laxman was arrested on December 31 near KSRTC bus stand with the stolen valuables.
