No sign of sex assault: Police sources after woman’s burnt body found in Bengal

Days after the body of an 18-year-old woman was found half-burnt and partially naked in West Bengal’s Nadia, police sources revealed that the preliminary post-mortem report indicates no signs of sexual assault, strangling, or external injuries.
The report suggests that the burn injuries on her face were the result of self-immolation, and the injuries were ante-mortem in nature, implying they occurred before her death, sources added.
The charred body of the Class 11 student was discovered close to the office of the Superintendent of Police in Krishnanagar on Wednesday. According to police, the woman had been missing since Tuesday evening, and her family had been searching for her when the gruesome discovery was made. Local residents found the body during their morning walk and immediately alerted the police, who arrived at the scene and transported her body to a hospital.
The police are also probing the suicide angle in the case. However, the final autopsy and forensic reports are still pending, and police officials remain tight-lipped about the case.
Sources from the forensic team have revealed that traces of a kerosene-like substance were found on the burn wounds on the victim’s face. In addition, a bottle of kerosene and a matchbox were discovered near her body. Forensic experts are analysing fingerprints collected from these items, including the victim’s, to determine if she used them herself or if someone else was involved.
Rahul Bose, the victim’s boyfriend, is currently under investigation. The family had raised suspicions about the boyfriend after the woman failed to return home, and they were unable to get clear answers from him regarding her whereabouts.
According to police sources, the last call made from the victim’s phone was to Rahul. Police are also reviewing his phone’s tower location data, which suggests he was in a nearby field from 9 pm to 11 pm on the night of the incident. An eyewitness reported seeing him in the area with a friend, just 100 meters away from where the woman’s body was discovered. Rahul left the field around 11 pm and returned home, according to police sources.
The woman had made a social media post at 10.30 pm on the eventful night, stating, “No one is responsible for my death, I am responsible.” A mutual friend, alarmed by the post, called Rahul around 11 pm, urging him to reach out to the victim. Rahul claims that he tried to call her several times but received no response.
The preliminary autopsy report indicates that the time of death was between 11 pm and 3 am.