Elderly woman mysteriously burned to death in Patuli; Son missing

A 72-year-old woman, Malavika Moitra, was found burned to death inside her rented flat in Vidyasagar Colony, Patuli. The incident was reported around 12:30 PM when neighbors noticed smoke coming from the house and informed the fire department. When authorities arrived, they found the main door locked from the outside. Firefighters and police forced entry and discovered her charred body on the bed, with her face covered by a pillow.

The fire appeared to have been confined to her body and the bed, while the rest of the room remained largely unaffected. According to local sources, Malavika Moitra lived in the flat with her son, who has been missing since the incident. Police are searching for him and examining whether his disappearance is linked to the case. Officials are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area and questioning neighbors to determine if there were any visitors or suspicious activity before the fire.

No signs of forced entry were found, apart from the door being locked from the outside. The forensic team has been called to examine the scene and identify the exact cause of the fire. Authorities are investigating multiple possibilities, including accidental fire, self-immolation, or homicide. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination. Police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward as the investigation continues.