Mason arrested for killing elderly couple over monetary dispute

Prayagraj: Naini police on Wednesday claimed to have solved the elderly couple's murder case and arrested the prime accused from the Trans-Yamuna pocket of the district.

Police have also seized a hammer, and other objects used in the killing from the possession of Shyam Babu (40) of Chatkahna (Industrial Area), a mason by profession. Police claimed that the murder was a fallout of a monetary dispute.

The couple-- Arun Kumar Srivastava (65) and his wife Meena (60) -- were found murdered inside their house at ADA Colony, Naini area on Monday. Arun Kumar retired from the Transport Corporation of India (TCI) about seven years ago.

DCP (Yamuna Nagar) Vivek Yadav told TOI: "With the help of CCTV footage, CDR report and scientific evidence, cops managed to arrest Shyam Babu, who confessed to have killed the elderly couple over Rs 20,000."

The arrested miscreant, a mason by profession, told police that he had worked at the elderly couple's home about three months back and arrived at their home on April 27 to collect his pending dues.

"However, the slain TCI official asked him to come the next day. When he reached the couple's home on April 28, Srivastava asked him to come after an hour. After spending an hour, he again reached the home and asked him to clear his dues. However, this time, the argument ensued between them. In a fit of rage, Shyam Babu hit Srivastava on the head with a hammer. Hearing cries, when his wife tried to intervene, the accused attacked her too with the hammer," said the DCP. Shyam Babu told police that Srivastava had used derogatory remarks against him that further angered him.

The DCP said the mason used to carry a bag containing equipment like a hammer and other construction tools.

After killing the couple, the mason washed his hammer in the washbasin and escaped after locking the house from the outside. Police claimed that the mason used to walk with a limp, as captured in the CCTV footage.

The CCTV footage and scientific evidence of the hammer and nails proved the involvement of Shyam Babu.