Senior citizen’s murder solved

The police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the murder of a senior citizen in V.V. Puram police station limits with the arrest of one person.

Ninga (76) was found murdered at his home in Gokulam 3rd stage on August 30, and gold ornaments were stolen. Mr. Ninga was home alone at the time.

The murder sent shockwaves in Gokulam and surrounding localities as it reportedly took place in the daytime.

The V.V. Puram police picked up Manikanta (25), a water supplier, and interrogated him. He confessed to committing the murder for gain, the police said.

Around 54 gm of gold ornaments, worth Rs. 1.75 lakh, has been recovered from the accused.

Known to victim

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem said Manikanta was an acquaintance of the victim. He was a former colleague of the victim’s daughter and had visited the house many times.

“We initially suspected the people who collect scrap items from houses. However, we zeroed in on Manikanta,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) M.M. Mahadevaiah said the murder was not premeditated. The accused allegedly decided to kill Mr. Ninga on seeing him alone at home.

“The accused first smothered him with a pillow and later strangled him to death. He took away gold ornaments from the house. The veil used to strangle the victim has also been recovered,” he said.

Manikanta, a PU dropout from Uttanahalli, was in need of money, Mr. Mahadevaiah said.

To help senior citizens

Mr. Saleem said that a special protection programme had been planned for senior citizens, especially those living alone, as well as elderly couples. It would be along the lines of Aasare, a programme launched in coastal districts for senior citizens.

The police would identify senior citizens staying alone as well as elderly couples and make arrangements for their protection, including visits by beat police.

Mr. Saleem said that night patrolling had been intensified and fingerprints of suspicious persons would be collected, if necessary, by the night beat police or the personnel in police control room vans.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajanna was present.