Berhampur: In a gruesome incident, an elderly woman was found murdered by unidentified miscreants at her residence on Lane-7 of Alakapuri under Berhampur police limits early this morning.
The deceased was identified as Suraja Behera, 60, wife of a retired government employee Bijay Behera, police said.
The incident has left the people of Silk City in a state of shock as the motive of the murder is yet to be ascertained. It is suspected that either loot or past enmity could be the reason behind the crime.
The murder had reportedly taken place Thursday night and police personnel had guarded the house throughout the night. Following a complaint, police registered a case of murder and started an investigation with a scientific team and sniffer dog Friday.
However, police are clueless about the motive of the murder. Berhampur superintendent of police (SP) Pinak Mishra visited the spot. According to reports, the couple had conducted the marriage of their son Rashmi Ranjan Behera nearly a month ago.
Rashmi is now staying in Bhubaneswar along with his wife. Thursday evening, Bijay was out for some work in the city. Later, he called his wife but did not pick up the phone.
He returned home at around 9pm and was found the main door of his house locked from outside. Later, he broke open the door with the help of his neighbours and was shocked to see her wife lying in a pool of blood on the bed. Her wrist and neck had deep injuries.
Bijay immediately informed police about the incident. SP Pinak Mishra also visited the crime scene to take stock. The household articles and gold jewellery of Suraja were found to be intact, police said.
After preliminary investigation, police have denied the possibility of loot. However, the mobile phone of the deceased was missing.
Meanwhile, the body has been sent for post-mortem and a murder case registered at Sadar police station in this regard. The mystery behind the murder will be unravelled once her cell phone is found, police said.
PNN