Widow poisons woman to death

BENGALURU: A 50-year-old widow, who allegedly killed a homemaker with a cyanide-laced soft drink before fleeing with cash and valuables from the latter's west Bengaluru residence on Friday, was arrested a day later.
DCP (West) Labhu Ram said Vijayalakshmi alias Vijaya, a resident of KP Agrahara, met Manimegalai, 47, a resident of Cholurpalya, off Magadi Road, on Thursday when the latter had come looking to buy a house.Vijaya befriended Manimegalai and told her she was in dire need of money and sought a loan which she promised to return in six months. Manmegalai told her to meet her at home on Friday morning.
Vijaya bought cyanide powder and a 1-litre soft drink bottle and went to Manimegalai's house. After talking for some time, Vijaya offered her the cyanide-laced drink.
Soon after Manimegalai collapsed, Vijaya rummaged through the almirah and took Rs 7 lakh and 200gm of gold jewellery and 500gm of silver articles. Before leaving, she took the wick from the lamp burning in the puja room and set the diwan on fire. Around 2pm, Manimegalai's son Elangovan, came home from college and found the front door open. He found his mother lying on the diwan which was partially burnt. Elangovan and neighbours rushed Manimegalai to a hospital where she was declared brought dead.
Neighbours told police they saw a woman hurrying out of the house. Police caught Vijaya on Saturday at her house and on interrogation, she confessed to the crime.