Hyderabad: A 49-year-old woman was found murdered in her house at Peddamul Mandal in Ranga Reddy district on Wednesday. The victim is suspected have been raped by the attacker. The woman was living alone after her husband's death and her children had moved out after marriage.

Peddamul police said the victim was found dead by one her relatives who came to visit her on Wednesday morning. “She must have been killed last night, but nobody knew it until her relative came to see her,” said a police officer.

The attacker strangled her using a towel and there were signs of a struggle between the victim and the accused all over the place. Her clothes were seen removed and blood was coming out of her mouth. The door was kept open by the attacker, police officials said.

The victim, who belonged to Vikarabad, migrated to Peddamul some years ago. She was a vegetable vendor. The police have started investigating her acquaintances who used to meet her frequently.