Bhubaneswar, Nov. 16: A domestic help working with the septuagenarian doctor couple, Prafulla Mishra, 72, and Sushama Mishra, 70, who were found murdered in their Sailashree Vihar residence yesterday, is suspected to have masterminded the crime along with her two associates.

The bodies of Prafulla and Sushama were recovered from the ground floor of their two-storey house around 7.30am shortly after they returned home from a nearby temple. Police suspected that Prafulla was strangulated to death, while Sushama was hit on her head with a blunt object. The couple's youngest son, Satyadarshi Mishra, 41, who stays at Patia, recovered his parents' bodies.

The couple had hired three domestic helps to assist them in maintaining the house.

Police sources said the investigators zeroed in on one maidservant, who had been working with for the Mishras for the past two years. Though the cops are yet to make any official arrest in the case, sources said loot was the motive behind the crime and a formal arrest was a question of time.

"The 36-year-old maid servant staying at a slum in the Chandrasekharpur police limits had masterminded the crime along with her two associates. All of them went to the house after the victims had left for the temple, as it was Sushama's birthday on Sunday. Later, they searched the house with the hope of getting cash and gold. However, the couple reached the house earlier than expected and the accused attacked and killed them," said a police official.

Sources said the accused only managed to take away a gold chain but did not find any cash as the entire savings of the couple were deposited in the bank. "We are further interrogating the maid to find out more details," said a police official without divulging other details.

Sources said Prafulla, an eye specialist, had retired as an additional secretary in the state health department in 2001, while Sushama, a pathologist, had retired from the state health directorate.

Earlier, the police had advised the senior citizens to keep identity proof of maids and servants before engaging them for household works. "Most of the time senior citizens do not keep any identity proof of maids and servants. They should also verify their antecedents with the concerned police stations before engaging them," said a police official.

On the other hand, senior citizens demanded that police should ensure safety of the elderly people living alone. "The police had earlier launched a mobile based app Mo Saathi exclusively for women's security. They should introduce another such app for senior citizens - which would help the cops reaching them immediately during any distress condition," said Ranjan Mohapatra, a senior citizen.