Teenager arrested in connection with widow's murder

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connecton with the murder of a 55-year-old widow in the town about 12 days ago, police said today.

While arresting the accused yesterday, the police recovered some ornaments, two mobile phones and other articles which he had looted after allegedly killing Swarnalata Rath on July 23 at her house in Ram Nagar area, they said.

Some looted cash was yet to be recovered, police said.

The accused, a resident of the same area, had entered the widow’s house with a motive to loot when she was sleeping, Berhampur sub divisional police officer P K Patnaik said.

However, he stabbed her with a sharp weapon when she resisted his bid to loot, he said.

The widow, whose body was recovered the next day, was living in the house alone as her son was working outside the country.

The accused was identified and nabbed through mobile tracking, inspector-in charge, B N Pur police station A K Mishra said.