Senior citizen arrested for murdering Vikhroli woman

The crime branch of Mumbai police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a 61-year-old widow, Laxmibai Dangle, for the murder of 55-year-old Vikhroli resident Latika Kamble, who was found brutally murdered at her residence on September 14.

Confirming the findings of a recent survey that senior citizens face a greater risk from acquaintances than strangers, the crime branch of Mumbai police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a 61-year-old widow, Laxmibai Dangle, for the murder of 55-year-old Vikhroli resident Latika Kamble, who was found brutally murdered at her residence on September 14.

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Dangle was a neighbour and close friend of the victim since over a decade.

"The day before, we had the painful duty of arresting a grandson (in Malad senior citizen's murder case). Today, we had to arrest a grandmother," said joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy while confirming Dangle's arrest.

Stating that robbery was the sole motive, Roy said the murder weapon, a piece of granite slab, and stolen valuables (a gold chain, a gold earring and a cell phone) have been recovered.

Kamble, who lived in a Mhada tenement at Kannamwar Nagar in Vikhroli, was found murdered by her nephew Sandeep Mane after he returned from work in the evening. She had been hit on the head by a blunt object and died due to excessive bleeding and brain haemorrhage.

The ARS began narrowing down the suspects before finally zeroing in on Dangle, who lives five flats away from the deceased's. "Following a brief interrogation, she confessed to the crime and narrated the sequence of events," Roy said, adding that she also led the police to the murder weapon and the stolen valuables.

Dangle lives with her nephew, a gardener employed with the civic administration, and his wife, who works at a dental clinic.