Police in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district have launched a detailed investigation after a 75-year-old woman, who lived by herself, was discovered dead at her home. The incident occurred in Lingappaiyanpettai village near Ponneri, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Discovery of the Body and Missing Gold
The elderly woman, identified as Manjula, was found lifeless in the bathroom outside her house on Sunday morning. The grim discovery was made by a relative who had arrived to give her breakfast. According to family members, relatives who lived nearby took turns providing her with meals. She was last seen alive by a relative who delivered her dinner on Saturday night.
A key detail that raised suspicion was reported by a 45-year-old relative named Murugan. He informed the police that a one-sovereign gold ornament Manjula always wore was missing from her body. This revelation immediately shifted the focus of the probe towards possible foul play and theft.
Suspicious Circumstances and Police Probe
Adding to the mystery, Murugan also told authorities that he had spotted an unknown masked man surveying houses in the vicinity around midnight. The area where Manjula lived is sparsely populated and lacks CCTV surveillance, complicating the investigation.
Initial examination by the police found no visible injuries on the body. However, officials have stated that only a postmortem examination can conclusively determine whether she died of natural causes or was murdered. One line of inquiry is whether she was attacked when she stepped out of her house to use the outdoor bathroom.
Family's Actions and Forensic Examination
Before police could arrive at the scene, Manjula's relatives had begun preparations for her funeral. They had erected a shamiyana (canopy) in front of her house and placed the body in a freezer box. The police later recovered the body and sent it to the Ponneri Government Hospital for an official postmortem.
The investigation is now actively working to identify all individuals who visited Manjula on Saturday, the day before she was found dead. Police are piecing together her final hours to understand the sequence of events that led to her death.
This tragic case has highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by elderly individuals living alone in isolated areas. The Tiruvallur police are pursuing all angles to uncover the truth behind Manjula's untimely death.
