From correspondents in Orissa, India, 11:02 AM IST

A former soldier living in a small Orissa town has been arrested after he and his wife allegedly killed his 70-year-old mother because they wanted her property, police said Friday.

Sankar Ray, 42, a resident of Ranpur town in Nayagarh district, about 120 km from here, was pressuring his mother Soubhagya to transfer her property to his wife but she refused, according to police.

On Wednesday, Ray and his wife locked up his 75-year-old father in a room. They then suffocated his mother to death by smothering her face with a pillow, a police official alleged.

Ray was dismissed from the army eight years ago after he was caught smuggling. After losing his job, he returned home and was staying with his wife and parents.

Ray's father Sadananda complained to the police Thursday. Police have seized the dead body and sent it for autopsy.

Sankar has been arrested but his wife is absconding.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)