Agartala: Police on Tuesday arrested a woman and her husband for allegedly killing the woman’s 70-year-old mother over a dispute related to a fixed deposit and demand for a scooter in Tripura’s capital, officials said.
Police identified the deceased as Sulekha Dey of the West Bubhanban area under West Agartala police station. Police took her daughter, Bulti Deb, and son-in-law, Bishnu Deb, into custody for their alleged involvement in the crime.
Sadar subdivision police officer D P Ray said the case took a dramatic turn during investigation as the complainants themselves emerged as the prime accused. “Initially, both Bulti Deb and Bishnu Deb lodged a complaint claiming that unidentified miscreants had entered their house and assaulted the elderly woman. They later shifted her to GB Pant Hospital, where she died during treatment,” Ray said.
However, police found several inconsistencies in their statements. Both the accused were living with the elderly woman in the same house, and investigators failed to find evidence supporting their initial claim of an outsider’s involvement.
“During further investigation, we came to know about frequent family disputes. Bishnu Deb had been demanding a new scooter from his mother-in-law, which she refused. There was also a fixed deposit of Rs 2.5 lakh that was nearing maturity. The deceased had her own plans for the money, which did not align with the wishes of her daughter and son-in-law,” Ray said.
According to police, when the elderly woman resisted their demands, the accused allegedly assaulted her, causing grievous injuries. Fearing police action, they took her to the hospital, where she later succumbed.
To project the incident as a robbery, the accused allegedly removed the gold ornaments worn by the deceased. Police later recovered the jewellery from the possession of a relative, to whom it had been handed over temporarily, officials said.
West Agartala police station officer-in-charge Rana Chatterjee said digital and scientific evidence played a crucial role in cracking the case. “Based on the evidence collected, it is clear that the complainants themselves committed the crime and tried to mislead the investigation,” he said.
Further investigation is underway.