Malda, Feb. 4: A housewife was raped and throttled to death at her residence in Sahapur Baganpara, 5km from here, last night. One of the rapists was lynched by the villagers.

The husband of the 18-year-old, married for two years, was at the factory where he works when the incident took place. The couple had no children. On Sunday night, the woman was alone in the house when two men — both in their early twenties — attacked her.

Babu Sheikh and Chhoton Mondal were later identified by a neighbour who had seen them coming out of the woman’s house. While Chhoton, who lives in the same area, fled when villagers raided his house, Babu, a resident of Piyaji More in Malda town, was beaten to death. Babu had reportedly confessed to the crime, a villager said.

Police arrived at the spot around 10pm and took the accused to the hospital where he was declared “brought dead”.

Radharani Jha, a neighbour of the dead woman, said most of the people were indoors with windows shut because of the excessive cold. “That is why we never heard anything suspicious or shouts for help,” she said.

Attracted by the cries of the husband who came back and discovered the body around 9pm, the villagers, including Jha, rushed to the house. It was then that a relative of the couple who stayed nearby recounted having seen Chhoton and Babu coming out of the house.

District police chief Satyajit Banerjee said an investigation has started.