India, May 10 -- A 55-year-old woman was found dead inside a forest area near Dada Bhaiya Chowk in Basai village on Friday evening, police said, adding that it appears to be a case of murder.

According to police, passersby noticed foul smell from the area around 6pm and spotted the body lying in the bushes near the forest stretch. Police were then alerted and a team from Sector 9 police station reached the spot.

Investigators said the woman appeared to have been attacked with a heavy stone on her head, severely crushing her face and later dumped in the bushes. "The condition of the body suggests an attempt was made to hide the identity of the victim," a police officer familiar with the investigation said.

According to initial investiga...