Balasore, Nov. 18: Police today arrested a woman, along with her son and daughter-in-law, for the murder of her husband.

On Monday, the trio killed Bhagirathi Behera, 59, of Bankapatna village in the Simulia police limits over a family dispute. The accused wanted the money the victim had received as retirement benefit. The accused are Bhagirathi's wife Basanti, 50, their son Jayant, 28, and daughter-in-law Jhili, 25.

Simulia police station inspector in charge Ramesh Singh said: "The accused persons killed the victim for money. Bhagirathi was strangled to death."

"They have been booked for murder and criminal conspiracy, and we produced them in court today," he said. The police said Bhagirathi used to work at a private jute mill in Calcutta and retired about seven months ago. He received nearly Rs 1.6 lakh as retirement benefit and used the money to repair a small room in his house, apart from solemnizing Jayant's marriage. Since then, the trio had been asking him to give them the rest of the amount.

Bhagirathi had lodged a police complaint about a week ago alleging torture by his family. The cops had called them to the police station and tried to settle the matter amicably. But, the torture went on unabated and they stopped giving him food. His neighbours also made an attempt to sort out the family dispute.

On Monday night, the neighbours informed the police after hearing heated arguments. On reaching the spot, the police found Bhagirathi's body stashed in a sack. The accused were going to shift the body on a bicycle.

Strike hits life

Life at various places in Jharsuguda was paralysed today due to a dawn-to-dusk strike called by the BJP. The protesters are demanding that the district be declared as drought-hit after crops were damaged due to scanty rainfall.

The activists organised picketing at Beheramal and Badamal, disrupting vehicular traffic. Educational institutions, courts, banks, shops and offices remained closed. Buses were off the road. Only two-wheelers were seen plying.

Around 80 farmers have allegedly committed suicide in the past few months. Nearly 139 of the 314 blocks in the state's 21 districts have been declared drought-hit.