82-Year-Old Woman Assaulted in Gaddigodam Home Invasion
Hilda Anthony, an elderly resident of Nagpur, was attacked by an armed intruder, raising alarms over a potential serial attacker.
Hilda Anthony, 82, was assaulted in her home on Kamptee Road.
This incident mirrors a similar attack on another elderly woman just eight days prior.
Police are investigating possible connections and motives behind the attacks.
In a shocking incident late Friday night, Hilda Anthony, an 82-year-old woman, was violently assaulted by an armed intruder at her residence on Kamptee Road in Gaddigodam, Nagpur. This attack has raised concerns about a potential serial attacker, especially following a similar assault on another elderly woman just eight days earlier in the Gittikhadan area.
The similarities between the victims, both aged 82, and the method of attack, which involved wooden objects, have prompted investigators to explore the possibility of a single perpetrator or gang being responsible for both incidents. On October 8, another elderly woman, Rafiya Sharif, was attacked in her home in Ahbab Colony, sustaining serious injuries.
According to the complaint filed with the Sadar police, the attack on Hilda occurred around 9:30 PM when a man, estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old, rang her doorbell. Hilda believed he was a friend of her grandson, who had informed her shortly before that someone would come to collect a bucket and brush. However, the man entered her home wearing a cloth over his face and wielding a wooden stick. He forcibly dragged Hilda towards the bedroom and struck her on the head, causing significant bleeding. Despite her attempts to call for help, her cries went unheard.
The situation escalated when a friend of her grandson arrived shortly after the attack and saw a masked man fleeing the scene. Senior inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar of the Sadar police station noted that the intruder was in the house for less than two minutes. Hilda was subsequently found injured and was taken to a private hospital for medical care. Authorities are also investigating whether the assailant stole her purse and are examining the possibility of a property-related motive, given Hilda's ownership of substantial agricultural land.
The police have initiated an investigation, including a review of CCTV footage from the area, to identify the suspect and understand the circumstances of both attacks. This latest incident has heightened fears regarding the safety of elderly residents, particularly those living alone at night. Authorities are also looking into any connections with an unresolved robbery that occurred in Ahbab Colony, further emphasizing the need for increased vigilance in the community.