No breakthrough yet in elderly woman's murder

As reported by MiD DAY yesterday (‘Elderly woman found murdered') Lagad's body was found at her house in Sadashiv Peth on Monday evening. However, police are yet to make any breakthroughs in the case.

Crime scene: Police outside the Sadashiv Peth residence of Asha Narayan Lagad (72), who was found murdered on Monday night

"The post mortem report states head injury is the cause of death. We are trying our best to crack the case," said Makarand Ranade, deputy commissioner of police (zone I) Crime Branch is also conducting a parallel investigation in the case. "We have formed three teams and will crack the case soon," said assistant commissioner of police (crime I) Rajendra Bhamare.

Lagad was a resident of Laxmi Niwas building at Phadtare Chowk on Kumthekar Road. According to police, Lagad was the owner of the four-storey building. Tailoring shops line the ground floor, and she lived on the third floor. Tenants occupy the other two floors. Her two sons live separately in the neighbourhood.

Sources say on Monday morning, Lagad had gone to Alandi. Around 4.30 pm some neighbours saw her having tea. Later, one of them observed her lying on a cot and, when she did not wake up till late, informed her grandson. He arrived and called the doctor suspecting his grandmother was ill. After sometime, he found her glass bangles broken, and a gold bangle and chain missing. When he checked the cupboards, Rs 75,000 in cash and gold ornaments worth about Rs 3 lakh were also gone, police said.

ACP Bhamare added, "We analysed footage of some CCTV cameras installed at nearby shops, but could not get any concrete lead. However, we are working on some information that we have received but cannot reveal at this point." Cops suspect that the murder was pre-planned as shops on Kumthekar Road are closed on Monday.