Ankola: An aged couple was brutally murdered at their home at Andle in Mogata village in Ankola taluk on Friday late night.

The murderers have tied the hands and legs of the couple and attacked them before making away with the valuables from the home.

The deceased were identified as Narayan Bommayya Nayak (78) and his wife Savitri Narayan Nayak (72). According to a complaint lodged with the police, the murderers have walked away with around 15 tola gold and Rs two lakh cash from the house.

It is suspected that the murderers must have kept a watch on the house and the neighbouring people for the last several days. Chilli powder has fallen in the house and Savitri’s mouth has been covered with gum tape. While the lady’s body was found inside the house, the man’s body was found outside.

The couple’s younger son had been to Hubballi on Friday. The other two sons stay in Ankola while their daughters stay in Bhatkal and Belagavi. As only the old couple were there at home, the murderers must have entered the home and murdered them between 1:00 am and 3:00 am on Saturday. Police are investigating to find if it was dacoits who murdered the couple or there was some other motive behind the double murder. Hunt has been launched to trace the murderers. SP Shivaprakash Devraju, Additional SP Gopal Byakod, DySP Shankar Marihal and others along with fingerprint experts and dog squad visited the crime spot. Ankola police have registered a case.