DNA on chewed betel nut cracks murder of 81-year-old at Palasgaon (Raka); neighbour arrested

Gondia: An 81-year-old woman living alone at Palasgaon (Raka) in Sadak Arjuni taluka was killed on the night of September 1–2, and gold bangles, a ring and a beaded necklace worth ₹1.32 lakh were stolen from her. The local crime branch and Duggipar police have solved the case and arrested a 42-year-old man who lived next door on October 9, Berar Times and Tarun Bharat reported.

Analysis of CCTV footage, fingerprints, a dog squad, eyewitness accounts and mobile data initially yielded no firm lead. Police sent pieces of chewed betel nut found near the body to the forensic science laboratory in Nagpur for DNA testing and also tested blood samples of four suspects from the village. The DNA on the betel nut matched the accused's sample.

The investigation found that the accused was in financial trouble and in debt, and had contacted jewellers in Sadak Arjuni, Soundad and Lakhani through middlemen. Questioned on the evening of October 9, he confessed to killing her for the jewellery, police said. Efforts to recover the jewellery are under way. The operation was carried out under superintendent of police Gorakh Bhamre and additional SP Abhay Dongre.

Sources: Berar Times; Tarun Bharat Nagpur