Setting another example of distrust for their clan, three Pheriwals (hawkers) on Monday night allegedly killed a 76-year-old woman, who had given them shelter, and decamped with her ornaments and other valuables in Badapala village in Kendrapada district.
According to a complaint lodged in the Marshaghai police station, Swarnaprava Samantary, a widow who was staying in her house alone, was found dead with her legs and hands tied in her room and her gold ornaments were stolen.
Swarnaprava had been staying alone as her son and daughter are staying outside at their job places. She had kept a caretaker for her safety. On Monday night as the caretaker was absent, she asked three pheriwalas, who had been staying in one of thatched houses on rent for a week, to stay in her main building for her safety.
On Tuesday Morning, when widow’s family priest Suradhar Sarangi came to her house found that Swarnaprava was lying dead. He informed the neighbours about the incident.
When contacted, Kendrapada SP Rabi Narayan Behera said the three hawkers who had taken shelter in her house are suspected to have killed the woman after robbing her.
The hunt is on to nab the miscreants, he said. Besides this shocking incident, three house looting incidents have also been reported in Garajanga village, 500 metres from the widow’s house, on the last night. Houses of Baisnab Rout, Ullash Sahoo and Ganesh Prasad Das were looted, sources said.