Elderly woman found murdered in her Mulund flat

In a shocking incident, a 70-year-old woman, Laxmi Naik, was found murdered in her flat at Gavanpada area in Mulund (east) on Wednesday night. According to the police, robbery could have been the motive as gold ornaments and cash were found missing from the house.

The police have registered a case of murder and robbery against unidentified persons.

In her statement to the police, Laxmi's granddaughter Kavita Katme, 26, has said that the deceased lived with her younger sister, Leena Naik, 62, on the first floor of Pragati co-op housing society. Leena works as a maid in a nearby society.

"On Wednesday afternoon, Leena left for work and Laxmi was at home. Around 9.45pm, Katme came visiting and found the door locked. She then waited for Leena to come as she had the house keys," said police inspector Sunil Kale of Navghar station.

After sometime, Leena came home and opened the door. "Katme and Leena found Laxmi lying unconscious on the floor. Her hands and legs were tied with a rope," Kale said. On closer inspection, they found blood marks on Laxmi's ears and realised that her earrings were missing, he added.

They immediately alerted the neighbours and informed the police.

"Prima facie the death seems to have occurred due to suffocation because we found a bundle of cloth stuffed in her mouth," Kale said. "Also, there was no signs of forced entry, which indicates that the assailant could be someone known to the deceased," he added.

Valuables worth Rs 46,500 have been robbed from the house. "There is a CCTV on a shop opposite the building in which the Naiks live. We have taken CCTV footage and are scrutinising it," Kale said.