THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
A 49-year-old man was murdered and his body was set ablaze in Mapusa on Monday, barely two days after he had been released on bail in connection with a theft.
Mapusa police has apprehended two friends of the deceased in this connection.
According to reports, police was informed in the afternoon that a body was lying near the Sai Baba temple at Cunchelim.
Locals had alleged that the man was initially found alive but an ambulance reached the site only after two hours.
A Mapusa police team went to the site and found a burnt male body with other injuries as well.
Police enquiries revealed that the deceased was identified as Rajesh C Shetkar (49), a resident near Sai Baba temple at Cunchelim.
Investigations also revealed that Shetkar had been murdered and the body was later set ablaze. An offence of murder was then booked against an unknown person under Section 302 IPC.
Incidentally, the deceased had been arrested a month back on charges of stealing a bike and had been released on bail on November 21.
North Goa SP Shobhit Saksena also visited the site to take stock of police investigations.
A police team was later formed under the supervision of Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar and guidance of Mapusa SDPO Gajanan Prabhudessai.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of two of his friends, Rupesh Mahale (32) and Salim Nadaf (24) in the crime and they have been apprehended. They have reportedly admitted to their involvement in the crime.
Further investigations are in progress.
