Two arrested, juveniles detained for the murder of an elderly woman

Deputy Commissioner of Police G. Ramakrishna and other police officers present the accused before the media in Vijayawada on Friday.

One City Police on Friday arrested two people and took a juvenile into custody in connection with the July 14 murder of a 69-year-old woman and the theft of her gold jewelry in the One City area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police G. Ramakrishna told a press conference in Vijayawada that the police arrested M. Somashekar and B. Narendra and arrested a 17-year-old boy. The stolen gold ornaments and other valuables were recovered intact.

The victim, Vijaya Lakshmi, was found murdered in her house in Marwadi Veedhi. According to the police, Somashekar, a distant relative of the victim, used to visit her house frequently and knew that she was living alone as her daughter lives in the United States. He allegedly devised a plan to rob her.

One city circle inspector B. Gunaram said the accused allegedly strangled the woman to death in broad daylight before fleeing with the valuables.

NSVK West Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Durga Rao said the accused were identified with the help of CCTV footage, fingerprints and other scientific evidence collected during the investigation. During interrogation, they allegedly confessed to the crime.

The juvenile will be arraigned in juvenile court, police said.

Published – 17 Jul 2026 22:36 IST