Ludhiana: The Khanna police have claimed to have solved the blind murder of an 81-year-old NRI woman, Jagpal Kaur, with the arrest of her tenant, who allegedly killed her over a financial dispute.
The accused has been identified as Rahul, a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, who was living as a tenant at the victim’s house in Khanna’s New Abadi area.
Addressing a press conference, Khanna SSP Darpan Ahluwalia said the police received a call on the emergency helpline 112 on February 1, 2026, reporting the murder of an elderly woman at her residence. Given the seriousness of the crime, police teams immediately reached the spot and initiated an investigation with the help of forensic and technical experts.
Two special teams were formed under the supervision of SP (Detective) Pavanjit to trace the unidentified killer. During the investigation, suspicion fell on tenant Rahul, following which a case was registered and he was taken into custody on February 6.
During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime. According to police, Rahul owed ₹20,000 to a person in Aligarh, money he had borrowed for his father’s medical treatment. He had been residing in the victim’s house for the past three years along with his wife and two children.
Police said the accused was aware that Jagpal Kaur received rental income from multiple properties. On the intervening night of January 31 and February 1, he allegedly scaled the outer wall of the house, entered the premises barefoot and without carrying his mobile phone, and hid inside.
“When the elderly woman stepped out of her room, the accused strangled her from behind using a dupatta,” the SSP said. He then tied her hands and legs, locked her inside the bathroom, stole her purse from an almirah and fled the scene.
The police recovered the dupatta used in the murder and said further investigation is underway.
