A 60-year-old woman, Sabitri Bhattarai, was found dead in her rented room at Changunarayan Municipality-7, Bansbari on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur, the perpetrator had slit her throat with a sharp weapon.

The incident is said to have taken place at around 10:30 am on Sunday and the police were informed about it at around 12 pm.

“When the neighbours noticed that there was no activity in Bhattarai’s house, they went to have a look at it and found her dead. The neighbours then informed us and we rushed to the crime scene,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Rewati Raman Pokharel, spokesperson for the range, told the Post.

Bhattarai, a native of Sindhupalchok, used to live with her daughter and daughter-in-law. The incident took place when Bhattarai was alone at home.

During the course of interrogation with the neighbours, police said they had come to know about a quarrel between some unknown people and Bhattarai there on Sunday morning.

“The incident might have taken place after the quarrel. The investigation is ongoing and we have zeroed in on a person who may be behind the murder. The search for the said person has been intensified,” said Pokharel.

“The reason behind the murder will be revealed once the perpetrator is arrested. Similarly, the involvement of the other people noticed by the neighbours will also be revealed.”

Bhattarai’s body has been sent to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for post-mortem.