The body of a septuagenarian woman was found at her residence in Gariahat area in the southern part of the city on Thursday, police said.
The body of 60-year-old Urmila Kumari, originally from Punjab, bore multiple stab wounds, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Muralidhar Sharma said.
He said the woman was alone in the house with both her sons out of the city.
Sharma said an investigation has been launched to ascertain the motive behind the murder.
Sniffer dogs were pressed into service to trace the trail of the assailants, he added.