Woman murdered at home in Ludhiana, police suspect financial dispute; CCTV camera captures suspect.

Ludhiana: A 55-year-old woman was murdered inside her home in Punjabi Bagh Chowk, Salem Tabri, on Saturday, in what police suspect was a targeted killing linked to a financial dispute.

The victim, Sonam Jain, a local financier, was found strangled near the bathroom of her bedroom after her husband, Satinder Kumar Jain, returned home for lunch and discovered the main door unlocked. On calling out to her and receiving no reply, he entered and found her lifeless body. The couple's two children live abroad, and Sonam was alone at home while her husband was at work in a factory.

According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP-3) Sameer Verma, CCTV footage from the residence shows a man wearing a cap entering the house around 11:15 a.m. The footage does not show the suspect fleeing with valuables, leading investigators to believe the motive was murder, not robbery. "There was no sign of forced entry or theft," Verma said. "Given her involvement in financial dealings, we are probing whether the accused had any monetary dispute with the victim."

Police said the main gate was left unlocked, allowing the accused easy access to the house. Preliminary investigation suggests Sonam may have sustained injuries from falling during the assault. A case of murder has been registered at the Salem Tabri police station against an unidentified intruder. Authorities are working to identify the suspect using CCTV footage and local intelligence.

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