The decomposing body of an 80-year-old woman was found at her home in Subhashnagar in Chopra block of North Dinajpur on Sunday, four days after her death, her 55-year-old son telling police he did not know how to do her last rites.

Sources said the old woman Kusum Chakraborty stayed with her son Ramkrishna. Ramkrishna is suspected to be mentally challenged. Kusum did all the chores.

Her body has been sent for autopsy.

Neighbours suspected something amiss when they did not see Kusum for some days, and discovered a foul smell coming from her house.

Then, they informed the police.

“We spoke to her son who said that as he was alone could not find any option as to how to conduct the last rites and that he was living with the body for four days. We are waiting for post mortem reports to know the cause of her death,” said a police officer.

Car torched

Angry residents of Dumradangi village under Karandighi police station of North Dinajpur ransacked and torched the car of a resident on Sunday evening alleging that he was a drug peddler. Police brought the situation under control. Sources said the Saturday suicide of local youth and alleged drug addict Ranjan Kundu, 27, had made people angry.