Motihari: A man allegedly killed his 45-year-old mother for Rs 83,000 in Bihar’s East Champaran district and then fabricated a story of her kidnapping and robbery to mislead the police, officials said.
The Harsiddhi police arrested the woman’s elder son, identified as Alam Hussain, after her body was recovered from a sugarcane field on Wednesday. Police said they recovered the money, blood-stained clothes and the knife allegedly used in the crime from his possession.
The accused was produced before a court and sent to judicial custody on Thursday. The victim’s husband, Chuman Mian, lodged an FIR against his son.
Mother killed while returning home after withdrawing money
According to police, the victim, Najma Khatoon, was associated with a Jeevika self-help group. On Tuesday, she had withdrawn Rs 45,000 from the Union Bank branch in Areraj and was returning to her home in Bankatwa village in Paharpur through Sevaraha.
Police said Alam allegedly took his mother into a sugarcane field near Gaddupur Madhopur on the pretext of showing her rice. He allegedly attacked her with a knife, killed her and fled with the money.
He later allegedly told others that his mother had been kidnapped and robbed on the way, police said.
Son allegedly knew about the money
During the investigation, police found that Najma had visited the Union Bank branch in Areraj on Monday with her younger son to withdraw money from a loan sanctioned to her self-help group.
She returned to the bank the following day with other members of the group and withdrew Rs 45,000. The other women accompanying her went shopping in the market, after which Najma started her journey home alone.
Police said Alam knew that his mother was carrying money. Apart from the Rs 45,000 withdrawn from the bank, he allegedly took another Rs 43,000 kept at home, bringing the total amount to Rs 83,000.
Police uncovered alleged murder plot through technical evidence
Areraj SDPO Ravi Kumar said the accused had allegedly killed his mother with the intention of taking the money.
Police became suspicious of the kidnapping and robbery story and began investigating using technical and scientific evidence. During questioning, Alam allegedly confessed to his involvement and provided information related to the crime, officials said.
Police also said the accused had purchased a new knife in Areraj allegedly to carry out the murder.
A police team comprising SDPO Ravi Kumar, Harsiddhi SHO Sunil Kumar, Additional SHO Avinash Kumar, Paharpur SHO and other personnel conducted the investigation and arrested the accused.
Police said further investigation is underway based on the information obtained during questioning.
