Woman, daughter murdered in Punjab

HOSHIARPUR - A middle-aged woman and her daughter from an affluent family of this Punjab town were found murdered under mysterious circumstances here Tuesday.

Police officials investigating the double murder in the house of brick kiln owner Rakesh Mohan Puri said over Rs.2 million (Rs.20 lakh) in cash and jewellery was taken away by the assailants.

The victims were identified as Purnima, aged around 45 years, and Mohini, 22. The latter was a final year student of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).

“Investigations are on. We are questioning certain people, including the maid servant of the house. The assailants used sharp-edged weapons to commit the crime,” a police official at the spot told IANS.

The house where the crime was committed in the Simla Pahadi locality of the town is hardly 200 metres from the district police chief’s residence.

The crime came to light when Puri’s 10-year-old son returned from school and found the front door locked from inside. As no one opened the door, the boy called up his father who entered the house from the rear.

Puri found the bodies of his wife and daughter near the staircase of the house.