A joint team of the city police and the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department is probing into the murder of an aged woman at Vattakkinar, near the Kozhikode Government Arts and Science College.
The team comprising the Kasaba Circle Inspector and officers from the Crime Branch (Hurt and Homicide Wing) has launched a manhunt for the culprit who hacked to death 69-year-old Sundariamma at her house around 1.30 a.m. on Saturday.
G. Sparjankumar, Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode city, is monitoring the probe.
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Currently the case has not been transferred to the Crime Branch. Usually the Crime Branch takes over a murder case if the local police fail to nab the culprit within 48 hours. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (Kannur range) has to take a decision over transferring the case.
Burglary attempt
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect could be a migrant worker who attacked the elderly woman with sharp weapons during a burglary attempt. Sundariamma, who was residing alone in one of the four row houses at Chirakkal Lane, used to make a living by selling homemade snacks and idli and dosas to small hotels and migrants in the locality. Her married daughters were staying elsewhere.
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Mr. Sparjankumar said that the clues obtained so far confused the investigators as the gold chains and Rs.6,500 in her possession were found to be intact. Perhaps the culprit could not get away with the money and ornaments as her neighbours awoke after hearing the screams from the house.
Fingerprint experts have not been able to give any convincing hints about any of the criminals in their database. The results of the forensic examination are yet to be obtained.
The accused had entered the house through the roof of the house after removing the clay tiles. He had used some bamboo poles found near the house to reach the top. Investigators were checking for evidence in other districts as well, Mr. Sparjankumar said.
Previously Sundariamma ran a petty money-lending business among the workers. Doubts have been raised about enmity with her business rivals.