The accused allegedly strangulated the 59-year-old victim, removed her gold valuables, and carried the body in his autorickshaw to a garbage dumping yard at Hosur Bande in Bagalur. 
| Photo Credit: Illustration by Satheesh Vellinezhi

Kothanur police have arrested a 35-year-old handyman for allegedly murdering a home alone woman to rob her gold valuables four months ago.

The accused, Lakshman, allegedly strangulated the victim, 59-year-old Mary D., removed her gold valuables weighing 50 grams, carried the body in his autorickshaw to a garbage dumping yard at Hosur Bande in Bagalur.

The accused was missing since then. Police had kept a watch on all the four SIM cards he was using. Recently, one of the SIM cards was activated. The accused had used the SIM card to call a female friend.

Using the piece of information, the police tracked down Lakshman and arrested him. A detailed questioning led him to confess to the crime. 

According to the police, Lakshman used to live in Nagenahalli slum board colony. He worked as a handyman and would drive an autorickshaw. He was into all kinds of vices and had borrowed ₹2 lakh.

When the money lenders started demanding return of the money, he hatched a plan to kill Mary and rob her gold valuables. As per the plan, Lakshman disconnected the power in Mary’s house. When Mary called him to check, he gained entry to the house. Once inside, he allegedly strangulated Mary to death and removed her valuables. He wrapped her body in a piece of cloth.

He threw Mary’s mobile phone into a garbage truck and discarded her body in a garbage dumping yard, police said. The police claim that the accused took inspiration for the crime from a film.

The murder came to light when Mary’s daughter came to check on her and filed a missing person complaint. The police tried to track her down and traced her mobile phone to D.J. Halli. Family members began to suspect the role of Lakshman who was the last person to be seen at Mary’s house, and had been missing since then.