Kalyani, Dec. 9: A law student from Khardah separated from her husband earlier this year was found shot dead by unknown assailants at an isolated place in Kalyani last night.

A patrolling van of Kalyani police found the bullet-ridden body of Moumita Biswas, 22, around 9.30pm along the Kalyani Expressway. She was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital, where she was declared brought dead.

A doctor at the hospital said Moumita had one bullet injury in the forehead. Her body has been sent for a post-mortem.

The girl's father, a constable attached to Khardah police station, has accused her former husband of plotting the murder. Moumita had eloped with Nikhil Sen and married him last year. They separated earlier this year.

The police have detained Nikhil, a garment trader based in Barrackpore, for questioning.

Family members said Moumita, a student of Snehangshu Kanta Acharya Institute of Law in Kalyani, was on leave and had gone to the Nadia town to visit a friend.

Police sources said the girl was recently involved in a relationship with an employee of the law college. The police have detained him too.

Officers could not specify how many assailants had attacked Moumita yesterday.

An investigating officer said: "It is not clear how she reached the deserted place. Not much is known about the assailants. We are trying to find out."

Koustabhaditya Achariya, Kalyani's sub-divisional police officer, said: "We have detained two youths for questioning. We have also spoken to the parents of the girl."

Kalyani police said they had initiated a murder case on the basis of the complaint lodged by the girl's father.

"We strongly believe that Nikhil and his family members have killed Moumita. Nikhil had eloped with my daughter and spoiled her life. Now he killed her," Bimal Biswas said.

Moumita's family alleged that she had wanted to continue with her studies but her in-laws were opposed to it. This eventually led to their separation, a family member said.

Students of the law college have decided to organise a condolence meeting tomorrow.

Tanmay Sen, the teacher in charge of the law institute, described Moumita as a "nice student".

"I am shocked to learn about Moumita's death. She was a nice student and was scheduled to take the first semester exams starting December 21. We have no idea if she was having any personal problems in her life."