Nagpur: An 82-year-old woman, Hilda Anthony, was brutally attacked by an armed intruder at her residence on Kamptee Road in Gaddigodam late Friday, triggering fears of a serial attacker on the prowl with a similar assault on an elderly woman taking place eight days ago in Gittikhadan police limits.A striking resemblance in victims’ age and use of wooden planks in the attack prompted investigators to examine whether the same person or gang is involved. On October 8, Rafiya Sharif, 82, was left bruised and battered at her Ahbab Colony residence.In both cases, the elderly women were struck on the head with wooden objects. As per complaint with Sadar police, Friday’s incident occurred around 9.30pm when a man in the age-group of 25-30 rang the doorbell of Hilda’s house. The woman reportedly believed the visitor could be a friend of her grandson, who informed her just 15 minutes before that someone would come to collect a bucket and brush.The visitor, however, entered the house with a cloth around his face and a wooden stick in his hand. He dragged Hilda towards the bedroom and struck her on the head with a wooden object, leaving her bleeding. Hilda raised an alarm, but it was too faint to be heard.A friend of her grandson reportedly arrived at around 9.35 pm shortly after the assault and noticed a masked man leaving the premises. “The intruder was barely one-and-half minutes inside the house,” said senior inspector of Sadar police station Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar.The friend alerted Hilda’s grandson, who rushed home to find her grievously injured. Hilda was taken to a private hospital for treatment. Police said she was receiving medical attention.Investigators are also examining whether the attacker took the woman’s purse. Police are yet to establish the crime motive and are looking into the possibility of a property-related angle.Hilda reportedly lives with her grandson and owns property, including 22 acres of agricultural land in Mansar. Investigators are verifying whether these circumstances have a bearing on the attack.Sadar police and crime branch visited the scene and began an investigation, including examining CCTV footage. Officers are scrutinising the suspect’s appearance, movements and circumstances surrounding both attacks.The latest attack raised concerns about the safety of elderly residents who may be alone at home at night. Police are checking for a possible connection with the still-unsolved Ahbab Colony robbery.
