NEW DELHI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A 79-year-old French woman has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in her rented home in the central government-controlled territory of Pondicherry in southern India, a senior police official said Wednesday.
"The woman's body was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her house in Arumbathapuram village in Pondicherry by none other than her domestic help Tuesday after she knocked the door and peeped through the window after getting no response," he said, on condition of anonymity.
Soon relatives staying nearby were informed and they broke open the door and informed cops.
"We have now launched a probe into the mysterious death as gold ornaments worn by the woman were found to be missing. We are also trying to find out if money and other valuables kept in the house are missing too," the official said.
The woman, who is of Indian-origin, has been identified as 79-year-old Krishnaveni, who had been living alone in Pondicherry, a former French colony. "Her son lives in France while her daughter stays in another village in Pondicherry. They have been informed about the death," he said.
The body has been sent for an autopsy. "We are waiting for the post-mortem report and decide on the future course of action," the official added.
