Woman, 26, found dead in locked Baranagar flat; murder suspected
Synopsis
A 26-year-old woman was found dead with visible injury marks inside a locked flat in Baranagar, West Bengal, after neighbours raised an alarm when she stopped responding to calls. Police broke open the door and are now treating her death as a suspected murder, awaiting a post-mortem report that could unlock the case.
Key Takeaways
Anjali Sau , 26 , was found dead inside a locked fifth-floor flat in Lake Palli, Baranagar , North 24 Parganas , late on Tuesday night .
Visible injury marks on the body have prompted investigators to suspect murder.
The flat belonged to Anjali's brother-in-law , who had handed the key to neighbour Latika Manna before relocating to Serampore .
Baranagar police broke open the door after neighbours could not reach her and alerted authorities.
The body was sent for a post-mortem examination , whose findings are expected to determine the cause of death.
Police are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning residents to reconstruct events.
The body of Anjali Sau, a 26-year-old woman, was recovered from a locked fifth-floor flat in the Lake Palli area of Baranagar, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, late on Tuesday night, with police treating the death as a suspected murder. Personnel from Baranagar police station broke open the door after neighbours raised an alarm, only to find her body lying on the floor with visible injury marks.
How the Body Was Discovered
According to police, the flat belonged to Anjali's brother-in-law, who had been living there with Anjali's sister for roughly four years. The couple had recently relocated to Serampore in Hooghly district due to business commitments. Before departing on Monday, the brother-in-law handed over the flat's key to a neighbour, Latika Manna.
Anjali reportedly collected the key from Manna and entered the fifth-floor flat on Tuesday afternoon. When her sister attempted to reach her later that afternoon and received no response, she contacted neighbours and asked them to check on Anjali. Repeated knocks on the door went unanswered, prompting the neighbours to alert the Baranagar police.
Injury Marks and Investigation Under Way
A police team arrived at the scene, broke open the door, and found Anjali's body on the floor. Officers noted visible injury marks on the body, which have heightened suspicions of foul play. The body was first taken to Baranagar State General Hospital and subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination, whose findings are expected to be pivotal in determining the cause of death.
Investigators have not ruled out murder and are treating the case with corresponding urgency. The police are reviewing CCTV footage from cameras installed in and around the Lake Palli locality and are questioning neighbours and other residents to piece together the sequence of events leading up to Anjali's death.
Community on Edge in Lake Palli
The incident has unsettled residents of the area, with many expressing concern over the circumstances of the death. Local sources noted that the flat had been unoccupied by the regular residents for some time before the incident, raising questions about who may have had knowledge of or access to the premises.
What Happens Next
The post-mortem report will be central to determining whether Anjali was murdered or whether her death resulted from other causes. Police said further leads from the CCTV review and witness statements would guide the direction of the investigation. The case is expected to develop further once the medical examiner's findings are available.
Point of View
Whether the entry was forced or facilitated, and the timeline between Anjali entering the flat and her sister's failed calls. The post-mortem is the pivotal step, but equally important will be the CCTV sweep: a fifth-floor flat in a residential block typically has chokepoints — staircases, lifts, building entrances — that cameras can account for. If the footage shows a gap, that gap becomes the investigation's core.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Anjali Sau and where was she found?
Anjali Sau was a 26-year-old woman found dead inside a locked fifth-floor flat in the Lake Palli area of Baranagar, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, late on Tuesday night. The flat belonged to her brother-in-law, who had recently shifted to Serampore.
Why do police suspect murder in the Baranagar flat death?
Police suspect murder because visible injury marks were found on Anjali Sau's body when officers broke open the locked flat door. Investigators have not ruled out foul play and are awaiting the post-mortem examination report to confirm the cause of death.
How was the body discovered?
Anjali's sister tried to call her on Tuesday afternoon and received no response. She asked neighbours to check on Anjali; they knocked repeatedly, got no answer, and alerted the Baranagar police, who broke open the door and found the body.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Baranagar police have launched a formal investigation, reviewing CCTV footage from the locality and questioning neighbours and residents. The post-mortem report is awaited and is expected to be crucial in determining whether the death was a murder or occurred under other circumstances.
Who had access to the flat before the body was found?
Anjali's brother-in-law, who owns the flat, handed its key to neighbour Latika Manna before leaving for Serampore. Anjali reportedly collected the key from Manna and entered the flat on Tuesday afternoon. Investigators are examining the full chain of access as part of their inquiry.
