Ranchi: A widow and her 10-year-old foster child were found dead at their residence on Hill View Road in Bariatu here on Friday morning, with the needle of suspicion pointing to unidentified relatives with whom the deceased had a property dispute.

The digital video recorder linked to the two surveillance cameras - one facing the main entry and another inside a room on the ground floor - is missing.

Arti Kumari (50), who lost her lawyer husband Sitesh Kumar in February, ran a co-ed kindergarten from the same two-storey building. She was also a working committee member of the state BJP's Mahila Morcha. Son Ritesh was a Class III student of Don Bosco School in Hotwar.

City SP Aman Kumar said they suspected murder over property. "The child was found hanging from a ceiling fan with a torn piece of sari or dupatta as noose. The woman was lying lifeless on the floor in the same ground floor room. The school was on the top floor," he said, adding that the DVR for CCTV cameras seemed to have been stolen.

Neighbours have told police that the husband-wife duo were natives of Samastipur in Bihar, but had settled in Ranchi several years ago.

"They own landed property in their village at Rusera in Samastipur, besides in Ranchi. Sitesh had transferred their entire property to their adopted son, which perhaps did not go down well with some close relatives," the SP said and added, "While there was no sign of forced entry, there were signs of struggle inside the house, indicating that the victims knew their assailants. We suspect both mother and son were strangled."

Police said the double murder came to light around 8am when the domestic help came knocking.

Ruksana Khatoon, who also works as a peon in the school, said Arti was an early-riser and she was surprised when the widow didn't answer the bell. "The school cab driver was also waiting for Madam to give him the daily pick-up slip. When no one answered for five minutes, I pushed open the door and went in. I saw bodies. There was also a broken flower pot outside the room," the maid said.

Bariatu police arrived on the spot and a forensic team followed. Preliminary investigations indicated that a week ago, Arti had fired a teacher.

However, the city SP ruled out the revenge angle. "We suspect relatives of the deceased who are based in Patna and Samastipur had a role to play. They will be questioned," he added.

Neighbours said Arti loved children and the childless couple started the school in 1994.

"Unfortunately, Sitesh passed away earlier this year. But, the lady decided to continue their good work. There are around 150 students and five teachers. The school also trained teachers. She was an active social worker," said a resident.

Ranchi mayor Asha Lakra visited the crime scene with over a dozen leaders and workers of BJP Mahila Morcha. "This looks like cold-blooded murder. We want police to bring the culprits to book," Lakra said.