Saroja Kannaiah (70), wife of former panchayat president of Chennareddiyur near Latheri, was found murdered by unidentified assailants on Friday.
She was found dead with bleeding injuries on her head and face by her relative Ravichandran, who returned home after watching a bull race in Keezhmuttukoor, police sources said. Nearly five sovereigns of gold jewels she was wearing were reported missing, police sources said.
After the death of Kannaiah, the woman was living alone in her house.
The gruesome murder has sparked tensions in the area.
Deputy Inspector General of Police-Vellore, N. Kamini and Vellore Superintendent of Police Praveshkumar inspected the scene of crime and held inquiries with local people.
Fingerprint experts collected samples from the scene of crime and services of sniffer dog were used to find clues.
The Latheri police registered a case and shifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Adukkamparai for post-mortem .
