Bhubaneswar: A 24-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death by her lover in Sonepur district of Odisha yesterday.

The deceased has been identified as Mandakini Patania of Balipali village at Kenjhiriapali panchayat under Birmaharajpur police station in Sonepur.

Accused Linga Dehury also set the woman’s body on fire to destroy the evidence, sources said.

According to villagers, Mandakini and Linga were in a relationship for last several days. The duo got engaged in an argument after Linga caught her talking to another person over phone yesterday.

Subsequently, Linga strangled Mandakini to death and carried her body to secluded place outside the village before setting it on fire, sources said.

On being informed, police reached the spot today morning and recovered the half-burnt body before launching a probe into the incident. They have also detained the accused.