The Commissionerate Police have cracked the chilling murder of 76-year-old Kunjalata Nanda in the Buddhanagar area, arresting the prime accused—her caretaker—all the way from Vadodara, Gujarat, nine days after the crime.
The accused, identified as Balaram Maharana alias Balia, allegedly confessed to brutally murdering the elderly woman on November 3 with the sole intention of loot. Following a swift and intensive manhunt, police tracked Balaram down across state lines and brought him back on remand for sustained interrogation.
Stolen Valuables Recovered from Puri
During the investigation, police successfully seized a massive haul of looted valuables weighing nearly half a kilo. The recovered stash includes 52 unique gold-coated playing cards, various other gold ornaments estimated to be worth over Rs 10 lakh, silver utensils, looted cash, and a scooty used in the commission of the crime.
According to investigators, Balaram had cunningly stashed the stolen loot at the residence of his friend, Sabita Sethi, located in Brahmagiri within the Puri district. He had misled her by claiming he was leaving the items behind while heading out of town for work.
Accomplice Arrested
The net widened further as the police arrested Sabita Sethi for allegedly harbouring the stolen property and assisting the accused despite being aware of the criminal origins of the valuables. Both Balaram and Sabita are currently undergoing rigorous questioning by the Commissionerate Police as authorities piece together the complete sequence of events leading up to and following the tragic homicide.
The swift apprehension has brought a sense of relief to the local community in Laxmisagar, even as the investigation continues to uncover further details surrounding the heinous crime.
