Mysore : A home guard was found murdered at Sardar Vallababai Patel Nagar on the outskirts on Mysore-T Narsipur road in the city on Thursday.

Miscreants have allegedly robbed the victim of her gold valuables worth Rs three lakh before murdering her.

Saroja (52), wife of Basavaraj, an autorickshaw driver and resident of Hebbal is the deceased. Saroja was a senior home guard, having served the department for 24 years. She was deployed on duty at South police station.

The body of Saroja in khaki (saree) was found in the storm water drain near water tank park in the locality popularly known as police layout, at around 9.30 am.

According to Poornima, Saroja’s colleague, the latter had left for home on Wednesday at around 6.30 pm. The last time she was seen was near the KSRTC sub-urban bus stand waiting for the bus, as confirmed by the ASI K H Chandru.

Poornima said, till Basavaraj called her over phone on Thursday morning, she was unaware about her colleague having gone missing.

According to Basavaraj, his wife usually returned home by 7 pm. When she did not arrive till late night, the family members became anxious, he said, adding that she was wearing a mangalsutra and a gold chain weighing 100 grams. Since the jewelry was not found on the body, police suspect that it could be murder for gain.

Nazarbad police who are investigating the case said that except for a minor cut near the nose, there were no bodily injuries. Sand particles on her face suggest that the pertpetrators may have pressed her face against the earth, resulting in her death.

It could be the handiwork of either professionals or those who knew about her, as the place where her body was recovered is 10 km away from sub-urban bus stand circle, where was seen for the last time, the police added.A case has been registered.