Written by Anisha Ghosh

The Kolkata Police Saturday arrested two people in connection with the recent murder of a septuagenarian woman at her New Garia residence. The woman’s husband was found bound and unconscious under a bed.

The arrested accused have been identified as Ashalata Sardar, 36, an ayah (attendant) employed at the deceased woman’s house, and her associate, Md Jalal Mir, 41. Sardar was arrested from her rented house in Narendrapur at 8.05 am, while Mir was picked up from his residence in Dholahat around 1.40 am.

According to investigators, Sardar allegedly conspired with Mir, her partner, to commit the crime. Mir broke into the flat with Sardar’s assistance, during which the septuagenarian woman, Bijaya Das, was killed, and her husband, Prasanta Das, was tied up and left unconscious. The accused then fled with money and other valuables.

On Friday, the Panchasayar police station received information at around 6.25 am that a woman was not responding from inside her bedroom despite repeated calls by their maid, identified as Madhumitha Haldar.

On rushing to the spot, the police said they found Bijaya Das, wife of Prasanta Das, lying unconscious near the staircase of the residence, with visible injuries on her head and face.

Bijaya Das was rushed to NRS Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The body of Bijaya Das has been sent for post-mortem, while her husband remains under treatment. Further investigation is in progress.

(Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)