BHOPAL: A 60-year-old woman was found dead under suspicious circumstances after a fire broke out at her home in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, with police suspecting foul play after discovering her hands and mouth tied with a clutch wire.
The incident occurred around midnight on Saturday in Sahri village under the Tendukheda police station limits. The deceased has been identified as Halli Bai.
According to police, the fire was first reported by her son, Santosh, who alerted villagers. Authorities were contacted through Dial 112, and by the time police reached the spot, the thatched roof had collapsed, leaving the woman buried under debris.
Her body was recovered on Sunday morning after clearing the remains of the house. During the examination, officials found that her hands and mouth had been bound, raising strong suspicions of murder.
Villagers stated that only the mother and son were present in the house at the time of the incident. While Santosh managed to escape, locals alleged that no visible attempt was made to rescue his mother.
Some residents also claimed that Santosh struggled with substance abuse and was unemployed, adding that the family owned approximately 2.5 acres of agricultural land. The victim’s husband had passed away nearly three decades ago.
Police have taken the son into custody for questioning and are investigating whether the woman was killed before the fire was set or died as a result of it. A detailed probe is underway.
