A 47-year-old tea worker in western Dooars was allegedly bludgeoned to death by his wife on Monday night.

Police have recovered the body and arrested the woman.

Sources said Suren Bara, a worker of Gayerkata tea estate under Banarhat police station of Jalpaiguri district, was a habitual drunkard and often had fights with his wife Durgi, a worker of the same tea estate.

Ranjan, Suren’s brother, said: “They often fought. Earlier, my brother once damaged their quarters and set it on fire. His wife filed a complaint and he was in jail for months. Last night (Monday), he got drunk and tried to ransack the furniture at the quarters.”

Police sources said heated words were exchanged between Suren and Durgiand she picked up a wooden plank lying nearby to hit her husband with it on his head.

Neighbours informed police who recovered Suren’s body and arrested Durgi on Tuesday morning.

“We have recovered the murder weapon. Our men are interrogating the accused,” said a police officer.