The death of Anjali Sau, a 26-year-old woman whose body was discovered inside a locked flat in Baranagar, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, has taken a disturbing turn, with her missing mobile phone reportedly used to send threatening messages to her grieving family. Police are treating the case as a murder and are tracking a suspect who is believed to have fled to another state.

How the Body Was Discovered

Officers from Baranagar police station broke open the door of a locked flat in a five-storey residential building in the Lake Palli area, near Ward 17, late on Tuesday night, after Anjali's elder sister repeatedly failed to reach her on the phone and alerted authorities. The body was found inside with no one else present. The flat belonged to Anjali's sister and brother-in-law, who had been living there for approximately four years; the brother-in-law had recently shifted to Serampore in Hooghly district owing to business commitments.

According to investigators, Anjali collected the flat's keys from a neighbour on Tuesday afternoon — the keys having been left there by her brother-in-law on Monday — and entered the apartment. She stopped responding to calls later that day. The body was subsequently sent to Baranagar State General Hospital for an autopsy; the post-mortem report is still awaited.

Chilling Messages from a Dead Woman's Phone

Among the most unsettling developments is the brief reactivation of Anjali's missing mobile phone. After family members informed police of their suspicions about a particular individual, the phone was momentarily switched on. A cousin of the deceased said family members sent a simple 'Hi' message to the number and received a reply: 'If you want to know or ask something, you will get an answer.'

A second message followed shortly afterwards: 'I am among you, but you won't be able to catch me.' The phone was switched off soon after. The family has handed over screenshots of the exchange to investigators. Police are now examining whether the messages were intended to intimidate the family, mislead the investigation, or convey a deliberate signal.

Key Evidence and Suspect Profile

Anjali's family has reported that her mobile phone, wristwatch, ring, bracelet, and earrings are all missing. A cousin of the deceased alleged on Thursday that there were visible injury marks on her neck and face, and that a white scarf was tied around her neck when the body was found. The clothes she was wearing were reportedly torn, according to investigators.

Police have identified a young man — reportedly known to Anjali and believed to have shared a close relationship with her — after reviewing CCTV footage from the residential building. Investigators are exploring whether complications in their relationship may have led to the crime, and whether the suspect exploited the fact that Anjali was staying alone in the flat. Mobile phone location data has led authorities to conclude that the accused has likely fled to another state; police are withholding further operational details to avoid compromising the investigation.

Political Response and Community Concern

Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sajal Ghosh visited police officials and residents of the area on Wednesday, assuring the victim's family of his support. 'The culprit will certainly be caught. However, the police need some more time for the sake of the investigation,' Ghosh said.

What Investigators Are Doing Next

Police are questioning family members and residents of the apartment complex to determine whether anyone observed unfamiliar individuals entering or leaving the building around the time of the incident. Investigators are also trying to establish the motive behind the crime and the accused's state of mind, particularly in light of the provocative messages sent from Anjali's phone. The case remains active, with a cross-state manhunt believed to be underway.