Sahebpota (Alipurduar), Feb. 22: A mother of two children was allegedly killed by her in-laws here today. The victim’s mother-in-law, Neoti, has been arrested.

Aloke Sarkar, a daily wage earner, and Rina Das (25) were married for six years. The marriage had soured the relation between the two families, who are next-door neighbours at Sahebpota under the Alipurduar police station.

Last night, the couple with their two daughters, Moumita (4) and one-and-half-year-old Mandira, visited Rina’s parents. After returning from there, Aloke and his parents started abusing Rina’s family, said her father.

This morning, Rina again visited her parents. When she returned, she faced more abuses from her in-laws.

Around 9.30am, villagers saw flames coming out of Aloke’s house. They rushed in to bring the fire under control, before a fire engine from Alipurduar town, 22km away, reached the spot.

“We did not hear any cry for help from inside which makes us suspect that Rina had been killed before the room was set on fire. We moved a tin sheet and saw the body lying in a pool of blood,” said Ajit Das, a neighbour. He said he also saw Aloke and his parents flee.

Rina’s father Amal Das, who runs a grocery shop, said she often complained about the torture she faced at her in-law’s place.

“We have no doubt that Rina’s in-laws had killed her before setting the room on fire. I have named Aloke, his father Satyen and Neoti in my FIR.”

Mitesh Jain, the subdivisional police officer of Alipurduar, said Neoti has been arrested, while the others are absconding.