A 26-year-old woman today died of burns along with her minor daughter at Kathimahua village under Ramgarh police station of Palamau district, police said.
Deepa Devi might have poured kerosene on her seven-year-old daughter Kajal and then set herself on fire in a room of her house today afternoon, police said.
Deepa took the extreme step a day after she allegedly came across some act by her husband, Ganesh Gupta.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hiralal Ravi confirmed the incident but said it was yet to be ascertained whether it was a suicide or murder as the husband of the victim was at large.
The neighbors rushed to rescue on seeing smoke billowing from Deepa's room and broke open the door only to see her and her daughter dead.
Police recovered the bodies and sent it for post-mortem, Ravi said adding that a hunt was on to apprehend Ganesh.
Deepa's father Keshwar Gupta, a resident of Chandwa in adjoining Latehar district, visited the spot and registered a case in this connection.
