Shova Rani Ghosh was offering puja when some dacoits entered the house and looted cash and gold ornaments at about 8.30 AM, police officials said.
Ghosh, who was alone in the house, was beaten up by rods and strangulated to death as she apparently identified one of the assailants they said, adding the body was spotted in a pool of blood by her son Ashok Ghosh.