Patna, Feb. 7: A 70-year-old woman was allegedly burnt to death on Tuesday over a land dispute in Nawada, around 120km southeast of Patna.

The incident occurred around 12 noon when the victim, Sushila Devi, was alone in her house at Sonubigha village that falls under the jurisdiction of Kadirganj police outpost in Nawada district.

The deceased's daughter-in-law, Itilata Devi, told the police that her neighbours, led by Dharmendra Vishwakarma, attacked her mother-in-law when she was alone in the house.

The attackers later set her house on fire, causing severe burn injuries to Sushila. The police said the deceased's family had an old dispute with the accused over a plot of land.

Nawada superintendent of police Deepak Burnawal said the accused were absconding after the incident.

The police earlier rushed to the village after being informed by locals that a half-burnt body of Sushila, wife of a retired railway employee, late Babulal Jha, has been found.

The locals had assembled at the site after seeing the flames engulfing the house, said the police.

The station house officer of Kadirganj police outpost, Ranvijay Kumar, said the police recovered the burnt body of the woman and sent it to the Sadar hospital for post-mortem.

An FIR has been lodged against Vishwakarma and his associates, he added.

He said the statement of the complainant was being verified. "Land dispute is suspected to be the reason behind the murder," the station house officer added.

Deceased's son Rajeev Jha, an autorickshaw driver, told the police that he had gone to a temple to offer prayers at the time of the incident.

"I came to know about the incident from some of my neighbours," he told the police. The incident has triggered tension in the village. A police team was camping at the village to ward off any untoward incident.

Shot dead

In another incident, two members of a family were killed in Siwan on Tuesday.

Police said motorbike-borne criminals reached DD village that falls under the jurisdiction of NH police station and fired at a former mukhiya, Harendra Yadav, and his cousin Ajay Yadav.

While Harendra died on the spot, Ajay succumbed to his injuries at the Siwan sadar hospital during treatment.

Harendra's elder brother Dilip Kumar Yadav was murdered two years ago. Locals said Harendra was a witness to the murder case of his elder brother. Harendra was injured in the firing, which led to the death of Dilip.

Police said the deceased's family had a rivalry with Chandan Singh of the same village. Chandan is lodged in Siwan district jail in connection with a murder case.

The incident occurred at a stone's throw distance from the house of JDU lawmaker Shiv Prashan Yadav. The deceased were attacked when they were about to leave for the MLC's house.

Body found

Digha police on Tuesday recovered a body of a youth at Balupar in the riverine belt under the jurisdiction of Digha police station.

The body is yet to be identified but the police have sent the body to Patna Medical College and Hospital for postmortem.