Elderly woman murdered for gain

Theni, Mar 21 : In a gruesome incident, unidentified dacoits brutally murdered a septuagenarian woman and robbed 25 sovereigns of gold jewels when she was alone at home at Lakshmipuram village near Periyakulam, here today.

Seeniammal(74) was found by her neighbours this morning. The neighbours grew suspicious as she failed to respond when they called out to her, police said.

The woman was strangulated to death and the body was removed to government hospital for post-mortem.

Preliminary investigations revealed that 25 sovereigns of gold ornaments kept in the house were missing.

Periyakulam police registered a case and are investigating.