Kathmandu, July 6:

Unidentified persons smothered a 78-year-old woman, Mary Rose Shrestha, at a house in Battisputali today, police said.

Shrestha, a single woman, had been living in the house of Hemanta Shamsher Rana, police said. Rana and his brother have been living in Japan.

Shrestha is the maternal aunt of Rana. Inspector Ganga Panta of the Metropolitan Police Section, Gaushala, said Shrestha had been looking after the house after her elder sister and brother-in-law died some years ago. “The scene at the incident site indicates that the culprits murdered Shrestha with the intention of looting cash and valuables,” Panta said, adding, “Cupboards and trunks were broken and things were left in a mess.”

Shrestha had been living on the third floor of the three-and-a-half story building, while two flats were given on rent.

Inspector of the Metropolitan Police Circle, Bouddha, Bishnu Parajuli, said at least two persons must have been involved in the murder. He said they have arrested 10 persons for interrogation.