Police probe at the murder spot near Hardinge Park in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The murder of an elderly woman has come as the first major challenge for the new senior superintendent of police (SSP) and his team.

Manju Sahay (55) left her home on Road Number-21 of SK Nagar area under Buddha Colony police station around 11am on Wednesday. A patrolling police unit recovered her body, bearing multiple stab wounds, from a secluded area near Hardinge Park under Kotwali police station, around 10pm.

Jitender Rana took over as Patna SSP on Tuesday after the state government removed many senior police officers following the Gandhi Maidan stampede. Late on Wednesday, the state government appointed Satyaveer Singh as the new Patna City SP. Also, Vivekanand, who had earlier served Patna as additional superintendent of police (law and order), was appointed ASP (town). Rashid Jama, who too was in Patna earlier, was made the new ASP (law and order).

SSP Rana said the statements of the woman’s relatives were being recorded. “The family is in shock and the statements are not matching. However, the investigations are on and we hope to crack the case soon,” the officer said.

An officer at Kotwali police station said: “Earlier, the police believed the motive was loot. But the woman’s earrings are intact. Besides, the woman, wife of a retired central government employee, was not carrying any cash or mobile phone. It seems she was not of stable mental health and left home without telling others at home. It is not clear how she reached Hardinge Road area, around 5km south of her residence. Why she was killed in such a brutal manner also needs probe. The body bore five injuries made from a sharp weapon, possibly a knife.”

Sources said the police had recovered a knife. The police refused to comment on a possible conspiracy theory.

“Forensics have gone to the spot and collected samples. Family members say they had no idea the woman was not at home. They noticed her absence around noon. They lodged a missing report at the Buddha Colony police station in the afternoon. The woman has two married daughters who visiting their mother’s home for the festivals. Somebody might have lured her to the spot, the police feel. And it could be someone known, as the woman could not have gone out with a stranger. It is difficult to make a concrete statement now,” the officer said.

“The incident shows Patna is unsafe. Criminals are not afraid to strike and certainly do not fear cops. The police should solve this case at the earliest,” said Boring Road resident Rajnish Kumar.