Caretaker confesses to killing elderly woman; Wife charged for withholding information

By Sumesh Rajan | July 4, 2025 

Guwahati, Assam, INDIA: In a swift breakthrough, police in the northeastern Indian city of Guwahati have arrested a man accused of murdering a 72-year-old woman in her home, solving the case within 24 hours of the crime being reported.

The suspect, 36-year-old Ratul Das, who had been employed as a caretaker by the victim, Bandana Das (no relation), allegedly confessed to killing her while she slept on the night of July 1 in the upscale Kharghuli locality. According to police, Das entered her bedroom around midnight by climbing over the compound wall before attacking her.

Guwahati’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Amitabh Basumatary, said the investigation moved quickly after officers noticed a fresh cut on Ratul's finger—an injury sustained during the assault—which raised suspicion.

“After committing the crime, he attempted to destroy evidence by discarding the murder weapon behind the house and throwing his blood-stained vest into a nearby drain,” Basumatary told reporters on Thursday July 3. “He tried to stage the scene to resemble a break-in by an outsider.”

Police located and recovered the murder weapon during a crime scene reconstruction on Thursday July 3 morning, aided by Ratul himself.

During questioning, the accused claimed he had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack. He also alleged that repeated verbal abuse and financial denial by the victim led to his violent outburst.

Significantly, authorities have also booked Ratul’s wife, Kunjalata Das, for allegedly concealing information. According to investigators, Ratul confessed the crime to her shortly after committing it. However, she failed to alert the police.

“Had she come forward immediately, the course of the investigation might have been different,” Basumatary said.

The body of Bandana Das was discovered by neighbours on the morning of July 2 inside a locked room. Police launched a formal investigation soon after and detained Ratul later that day.

The case has sparked concern in the city over safety for elderly residents and the reliability of domestic workers. Police have stated that the investigation remains ongoing, with all possible angles being pursued.