THE KOLKATA Police arrested two people – a woman caregiver and her male aide – on Saturday in connection with the robbery and murder of a 79-year-old woman, Bijaya Das, at her New Garia Co-operative Housing Society flat, authorities said.

The arrests came within 48 hours after her body was found. Her husband was found with his hands and legs tied and semi-conscious under a bed, police said.

“The woman was found murdered at her New Garia home. Cash and other valuables were stolen. The two accused were nabbed from South 24 Parganas. Further investigation is on,” said the Kolkata Police.

Police said the arrested accused have been identified as Ashalata Sardar (36), a care-giver and domestic help who had been working in the Das household, and her associate Md Jalal Mir (41). Ashalata was arrested from her rented house in Narendrapur at 8:05 am on Saturday, while Jalal was picked up earlier the same day from his residence in Dholahat around 1:40 am.

Investigators said the two allegedly conspired to break into the couple’s flat at Kulu Villa, F-32, where Bijaya was attacked and later found dead. Her husband, Prasanta Das, was found beneath a bed and taken to hospital in a semi-conscious state. He is under treatment, doctors said.

On Friday, the Panchasayar police station received a call around 6:25 am on Friday from a domestic help employed by the couple, identified as Madhumitha Haldar, who said the woman (Bijaya Das) was not responding.

(Anisha Ghosh is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)