Sambalpur, Feb. 10 -- A woman was found dead with her body half-burnt under mysterious circumstances near a dyke of Hirakud Dam at Balbaspur locality under Sasan police limits in Sambalpur district.

The identity of the deceased woman has not been ascertained yet, a senior cop expressed.

"The woman was perhaps killed and was later burnt to destroy the evidence," some locals suspected.

"However, who murdered the woman and then set her on fire is not known," the locals added.

On being informed by the locals, a team of Sasan police reached the spot and seized the body. Police have registered a case in this connection and launched a probe into the suspicious death.

"Some locals spotted the woman's body while lying half-burnt at around 9.3...