Patna: Minor Grandson Detained for Murder of Elderly Wife of Freedom Fighter, Search on for Two Accomplices

PATNA – On Monday night, 80-year-old Lalita Devi, wife of late freedom fighter Ayodhya Bhagat, fell victim to a looting incident at her house in Dujra Gandhi Murti Gali in the Buddha Colony police station area. The incident was reported to the police at 11 am on Tuesday.

In connection with the crime, the police nabbed Lalita Devi’s step-grandson late at night, while the search for his two accomplices is ongoing. All three suspects are reported to be minors, and their motive behind the murder remains unclear. The detained minor is currently in police custody, with investigations ongoing, including interrogations of his parents and sisters.

SSP Rajiv Mishra stated that Lalita Devi’s step-grandson, upon being identified, was taken into police custody for questioning. However, he has not provided a concrete reason for the murder.

Lalita Devi had hired Baby Devi, a maid from the neighboring area, to manage household tasks. On Tuesday, Baby Devi arrived at Lalita Devi’s house at 10:30 AM but received no response despite persistent knocking and ringing the doorbell. Concerned, she called out to Neeraj, a resident living in front of Lalita Devi’s house.

Neeraj, along with neighbors and relatives, entered the house from the back door, only to discover Lalita Devi’s lifeless body lying face down on the bed. The room suggested signs of robbery, although Lalita Devi’s mobile phone was found on the premises. The police were notified promptly.

Lalita Devi, the second wife of the late freedom fighter Ayodhya Bhagat, resided in a spacious two-storey house in Gandhi Murti Gali. While she lived alone on the ground floor, the second floor served as a boys’ hostel for ten youths. Ayodhya Bhagat, a prominent freedom fighter, passed away in a road accident in 1989.

After the death of Ayodhya Bhagat’s first wife, Shyam Sundari Devi, he married Lalita Devi, a resident of Patna City. They had a son, Bhim Prasad, who later retired from the position of Sales Tax Commissioner in the Government of Jharkhand. Bhim Prasad has a daughter and son, and his family resides in Ranchi.

The three sons from Ayodhya Bhagat’s first wife live near Lalita Devi’s house. Upon learning of their mother’s demise, Bhim Prasad promptly reached Patna.

During the police investigation, it was discovered that the wire of the CCTV camera in Lalita Devi’s house had been cut. However, around midnight, two suspicious individuals were observed leaving with bags in hand. Despite the blurry image, the police successfully identified the culprits.

According to the detained minor, he and his friends entered Lalita Devi’s house from the balcony, cutting the wire of the camera and breaking the latch of the grill on the back door. Fearing that Lalita Devi might wake up if they broke the cupboard lock, they resorted to murder.

The arrested minor reportedly confessed that he covered Lalita Devi’s face with a pillow and towel while one of his friends strangled her. Once convinced of her demise, they proceeded to break the cupboard handle with a hammer-like tool near the fridge, stealing jewelry and cash. The broken handle was also taken by the perpetrators.

After the incident, the police conducted a thorough investigation, including the deployment of a dog squad and an FSL team for scientific research. The FSL collected evidence, and a dog named Duke quickly identified the scent of Lalita Devi’s body. Duke roamed within a ten-meter radius, eventually tracing the scent to the scooter of Lalita Devi’s granddaughter, Sania.

While no fresh wounds were found on Lalita Devi’s body, suggesting that she was murdered due to a scuffle or protest, the exact cause of her death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report. Lalita Devi’s body was discovered lying on the bed.

As Lalita Devi did not share information about her property, income, or jewelry with anyone, except perhaps her family, the police are exploring potential points of family feud and property disputes in their ongoing investigation.