Cuttack: The Commissionerate Police on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the murder of a 75-year-old woman during a robbery at Ananda Bazar under Baranga police limits in Cuttack district.
The accused has been identified as Jamuna Rout, a resident of Gandarpur village under Mancheswar Police Station in Khordha district, allegedly killed the victim, Basanti Behera, during a break-in at her residence on the night of May 20.
According to an official press release, Basanti, who lived alone, was found dead by her son, Bibhuti Bhusan Behera, around 7.45 am on May 21. She was lying in a pool of blood on the floor, prompting immediate police intervention.
A case was registered at Baranga Police Station the same day. Senior officers, including the ACP of Zone-IV and the IIC of Baranga PS, visited the crime scene along with the scientific team and dog squad. A blood-stained spade, suspected to be the murder weapon, was recovered.
The Cyber Cell of Cuttack Urban Police District, aided by AI-based CCTV analysis and ground verification, identified and apprehended the accused on May 27. Rout had been tracked using surveillance footage from Bhubaneswar Smart City cameras and local CCTV systems.
During interrogation, Rout confessed to the crime, revealing that he had observed the victim’s routine and targeted her house, believing it to be an easy target. He broke in under cover of darkness and, when confronted by the victim, attacked her with a sharp weapon.
Police recovered several stolen items from the accused, including household utensils, a mobile phone belonging to the deceased, the bicycle used during the crime, and the clothes worn at the time of the incident.
“The stolen items recovered from the accused include household utensils and a mobile phone. CCTV footage confirmed that the accused used a bicycle to reach the victim’s house, which has also been recovered. The clothes he wore during the incident have been seized as well. The accused has a prior criminal history related to property offenses and has previously served jail time. This angle is also being investigated further,” said Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo.
The accused was forwarded to court on Tuesday. Further investigation is underway.
