Murder of Elderly Woman: Srinagar Consultancies Under Lens After Incident.

Jammu and Kashmir police have said that the role of consultancies in providing domestic helpers without following norms of verification was being looked into following the gruesome murder of an elderly woman by a non local servant in Lal Bazar.

A sensational murder of octogenarian woman for cash and jewellery left Bhagwanpora locality of Lal Bazar in shock on Thursday.

85-year-old Mala Puffi, 85, wife of late Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh of Behrar, Bagwanpora was found dead at her home on Thursday with serious injury marks on her neck and head.

The family’s domestic help Omprakash Sah, 21, son of Gopal Sah of village Tatuli Gormadn in Uttarakhand emerged as the main suspect as he was nowhere to be found when the elderly woman was spotted lifeless by her family.

The accused, however, was arrested on the way to Jammu, five hours after committing the crime. The looted cash and jewellery was also recovered from his possession.

Talking to Kashmir Observer, Station House Officer (SHO) Lal Bazar Samir Jamid said that primary investigation has revealed that the intention behind the crime was the robbing of jewellery, which the lady was donning at the time of incident.

“Since she was alone at home, the accused took advantage of it and killed her,” he said.

He further added that the accused had tried “all possible means” to kill her and they have started an investigation into how the accused actually did it.

The officer further added that the family had hired the helper from a local private agency some days ago on a yearly contract.

The officer maintained that the tragic murder could have been averted if the domestic help would have been verified with the help of police. He urged people to get their tenants and domestic helpers verified from their concerned police stations.

According to the police, the accused has confessed to committing the crime.

A Police statement said that the further revelation and role of consultancy agencies while providing these domestic helpers without following norms are being looked into and accordingly legal action will follow.

“The investigation of the case has been taken up, and the case has been solved within one hour of reportage of the incident,” a police spokesperson said.

The operation to nab the culprit was supervised by SP Hazratbal Irshad Hussain Rather and SDPO Zadibal Shafat Ahmed and was investigated by SHO Lalbazar Samir Jamid.