Ranchi, May 10 (IANS) A woman has been arrested in Ranchi for allegedly murdering her father-in-law, a well-known homeopathic doctor, by suffocating him with a pillow following a domestic dispute, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in Vidyanagar locality under the Pandra OP police station area of the Jharkhand capital and has sparked shock and panic among residents.

The deceased has been identified as Dr K.P. Gupta, a reputed homeopathic practitioner who had been living with his family in Vidyanagar for several years. According to family members and police officials, Dr Gupta had been bedridden for the past few days after suffering from paralysis and was dependent on family members for day-to-day care.

Police said they received information on Saturday regarding the suspicious death of an elderly man at a residence in the locality. Soon after receiving the alert, a team from the Pandra OP police station reached the spot and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

During the preliminary inquiry, police reportedly found certain circumstances inside the house suspicious. The behaviour of family members and conflicting statements during questioning also raised suspicion, following which the victim’s daughter-in-law was taken into custody for interrogation.

According to police, the woman allegedly confessed during questioning that she had frequent arguments with her father-in-law over domestic matters. Investigators said another dispute reportedly broke out between the two on the day of the incident.

In a fit of anger, the accused allegedly pressed a pillow over Dr. Gupta’s face. Since the elderly man was physically weak and bedridden, he was unable to resist. Police suspect that prolonged suffocation led to his death.

As news of the incident spread in the locality, residents gathered outside the house, expressing shock over the alleged involvement of a family member in the crime. The incident has become a major topic of discussion in the area.

Police have sent the body to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Officials said the accused woman remains in police custody and is being further questioned. Investigators are also examining whether there were any additional factors behind the crime.

A case of murder has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

–IANS

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