The partially burnt body of a middle-aged nurse was found at her home in Kadma on Thursday night with police detaining a close acquaintance who visited her regularly as the prime suspect.

The deceased, Anita Sharma (43), was working at Brahmananda Narayanan Multispeciality Hospital in Tamulia. She was staying on the first floor of Jayanti Apartment on Road No 3 in Ramnagar.

Police said there were injury marks on her head, neck and face. Moreover, the body was partially burnt. "Someone murdered the nurse by hitting her head, neck and mouth. Later, the assailant tried to get the body burnt at the victim's flat,” said OC of Kadma police station Ranjit Kumar Singh.

The OC said police were informed about the incident around 10.30pm on Thursday by a man who identified himself as Arvind Singh, a resident of Baghbera locality. “Later, we came to know that Arvind Singh (50) was in a live-in relationship with the deceased for the past six years," Singh told The Telegraph Online.

The OC said police had detained Arvind Kumar Singh as he was a prime suspect. "We have detained Arvind because he is the person who used to keep visiting the victim's residence regularly. His replies to our queries are not satisfactory. He will remain in police custody for another day," the OC said.

According to police, Anita divorced her husband, Sunil Singh, in 2002. She was living with Arvind Singh in her flat since 2014.

Police have deployed finger-print experts at the scene of the crime. Anita’s body has been sent to MGM Medical College mortuary for post-mortem.

"Let the suspect remain in police custody for another 24 hours. We anticipate he will eventually divulge everything. Moreover, the autopsy and finger-print reports are expected to come in a week. These will help us prove the case,” the OC added.