A tribal widow was found dead on Saturday, five days after she went missing, in Ramgarh police station here in Palamau district, the case getting converted into that of murder.

Asmati Kuarn, 48, went missing on December 9. Her daughter Priyanka Toppo, 12, lodged a missing report on December 13 with Ramgarh police, after she and her relatives could not trace the woman, SDPO Sadar Sandip Kumar Gupta said.

Asmati’s body was discovered by villagers in a decomposed state in the jungles of Nawadih on Saturday. Dhuma Kisko, Ramgarh OC, said the site was barely 500 metres from her house. A deep bluish mark was found on her neck. She was clad in a sari and innerwear.

Her body was sent for post-mortem to Palamau Medical College Hospital on Saturday, but it could not be done at night. It was done on Sunday.

SDPO Gupta said they were looking at all angles behind the woman’s death. Apparently, she was widowed nearly a decade ago, but had a tribal man friend, who was married. On Monday evening, she and this man were seen having a heated exchange of words.

The SDPO said the man was at large. “We are looking for him,” Gupta said.