A joint police team from Neemuch Cantonment police station, cyber cell, and other units arrested two men on Sunday for the brutal murder of a 70-year-old woman at a multistorey apartment near Bansal Square on July 11 night.
According to Inspector Pushpa Singh Chauhan, the case unfolded when 74-year-old Girdharilal Goyal, a resident of Singhal Multi Aashirwad Bhawan, found his wife Leeladevi lying in a pool of blood with a slashed neck upon returning home from his shop around 8:15 pm. He immediately alerted family members and the police.
The police registered a case under BNS Section 103 and launched an intense investigation, deploying multiple teams to analyze CCTV footage and technical evidence. This led to the identification of Arjun Meena, a former painter for the Goyal family, as the prime suspect.
Surveillance traced Meena’s movements, and he was arrested along with Labhchand alias Bunty, who allegedly helped him escape. Meena confessed to planning the burglary for months and had previously stolen Rs 32,000 from the house six months earlier.
On the night of the murder, Meena attempted another theft but was confronted by Leeladevi. Panicking, he attacked her with a knife, fatally injuring her by slashing her neck. Meena fled with Rs 1.6 lakh cash from the apartment.
The police recovered the murder weapon and stolen money after the arrest. Officials have recommended a commendation for the police team for their swift and effective handling of the case.
