Australian woman murdered in Puttaparthi

A 75-year-old Australian woman, who was missing for more than two months in Andhra Pradesh's Puttaparthi town, has been murdered, police said.

Toni Anne Ludgate, a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who was on a pilgrimage to the town, was murdered by watchman of an apartment where she was staying.

Police began a search for the woman Friday morning after one of her family members who flew in from Australia lodged a complaint with the Puttaparthi police saying they had lost communication with her in August-end.

Police formed special teams and searched the Sai Gauri Apartments where she was staying alone in a flat.

The investigating officials questioned a few people who were in contact with her.

By evening, police arrested Bhagawant, the security guard at the apartments.

He confessed to have committed the crime for money and valuables. Two others, who helped him in the crime, were also arrested. They told police that after killing the woman, they buried her near a lake on the outskirts of the town.

The body will be exhumed Saturday. Ludgate was doing charity work in Puttaparthi, the abode of Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away in 2010.