Police claim to have solved the shocking daylight murder of a 43-year-old specially-abled woman, saying the accused is none other than her next-door neighbour. The suspect allegedly killed the woman after she caught him trying to steal money from her house.
The victim has been identified as Neetu Kalra, wife of government school teacher Pradeep Kalra. She was found brutally murdered with sharp-edged weapons on Monday afternoon at her residence in the densely populated Mohalla Janian area in the heart of Faridkot city.
The crime took place on Monday when Neetu, who was physically challenged in her legs, was alone at home. Her husband had left for his teaching duty around 7.30 am, while their 17-year-old and 10-year-old daughters had gone to school.
The incident came to light around 2.10 pm when Pradeep Kalra returned from work. As per their daily routine, Neetu would usually come to the main gate to open it. When there was no response despite repeated knocking, a worried Pradeep called his sister-in-law, Meera, and a neighbour for help. Upon entering the house, they found Neetu’s blood-soaked body hidden under a bed.
Initially, the family believed nothing was missing. However, a closer inspection revealed that Rs 44,000 in cash kept in an almirah in the house had been stolen.
Addressing a press conference, SP (Investigation) Jogeshwar Singh Goraya said a police team immediately launched a forensic and circumstantial investigation.
Suspicion soon fell on a neighbour, Prem Chand alias Badri Nath, a resident of Sodhia Wali Gali, Mohalla Janian. The victim’s husband told police that Prem Chand frequently visited their house and had a history of petty thefts. Another neighbor, Bhushan Kumar, also informed police that he had seen Prem Chand hurriedly leaving the Kalra residence around noon.
Acting swiftly, the City police intercepted and arrested Prem Chand.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. He admitted that he had entered the house as part of a pre-planned conspiracy to commit theft. When Neetu noticed him, he brutally attacked her with sharp-edged weapons to silence her, stole Rs 44,000 from the almirah, and fled the scene.
Police have seized the weapons used in the crime — a cutter and a dagger — along with the stolen Rs 44,000 in cash from the possession of the accused, SP Jogeshwar Singh Goraya said.
Prem Chand was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody. SP Goraya said police are now investigating the suspect’s forward and backward links to determine if anyone else was involved in facilitating the crime.