Balasore: Panic gripped residents of Fakirmohan Nagar under the Industrial Area Police Station limits in Balasore after a woman living in a rented house was found brutally murdered on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Mamata Debnath, a resident of the Basta area.

Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother, Aravind Debnath, police have registered a case (No. 86/26) and launched an investigation. The body has been sent to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination. A scientific team also visited the spot to assist in the probe.

According to reports, Mamata originally hailed from Talachua in Kendrapara district and was working at a beauty parlour in Balasore. She had been staying alone in a rented house in the Fakirmohan Nagar area.

Her brother Aravind, who lives in the Sahadevkhunta area, had tried to contact her over the phone as usual, but she did not respond. Suspecting something was amiss, he informed the police and rushed to her rented house.

Police reached the spot and found the door of the room open. Mamata’s bloodied body was lying face down on the floor. Preliminary investigation revealed her throat had been slit with a sharp weapon.

Although police have launched a probe, the motive behind the murder and the identity of the assailant were yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report.

Industrial Area Police Station IIC Rohit Kumar Bal said the victim’s brother has filed a written complaint alleging his sister was murdered.

“Based on the complaint, we have registered a case and launched an investigation. Preliminary findings indicate her throat was cut with a sharp weapon,” the police official said.

Police said the woman’s seven-year-old son has been staying with her brother for the past one year. A divorce case between the woman and her husband is also pending in court.