MAPUSA
A 37-year-old Russian national has been arrested on charges of murdering two female compatriots in Morjim and Arambol.
The accused, in a startling disclosure to police, has reportedly confessed to killing three other foreign women.
The first murder came to light on Thursday night when the accused, Aleksei Leonov, allegedly restrained 37-year-old Elena Kasthanova in her rented room at Bamanbhati, Arambol, and inflicted multiple injuries with a sharp weapon, resulting in her death.
A Russian woman, a friend of the victim, was staying in the adjacent room. When she noticed the murder, she fled the scene, and the suspect also escaped. The incident was then reported to the Mandrem police.
The police gathered information from the victim's friend and were searching for the suspected Russian national and conducting a preliminary investigation at the crime scene.
About two-and-half hours later, the suspect returned to the scene. On seeing the police, he tried to flee. The police officers stationed there chased and apprehended him, taking him into custody and later arresting him on charges of murder. The suspect was allegedly under the influence of drugs.
The second murder involving Leonov surfaced on Friday around 3 pm, when the body of another 37-year-old Russian woman, Elena Vaneeva, was discovered in a partially decomposed state in her rented room at Madhlowado, Morjim.
The police were informed that the deceased, Elina Vaneva, was murdered by the suspected accused late Wednesday night.
Police investigations revealed that Vaneeva had been unreachable since Wednesday night. Her young daughter was repeatedly calling her, but her mobile phone was switched off. The family then informed an acquaintance who was visiting Goa.
The acquaintance went to the room of the deceased and found the door open.
Vaneeva was found lying motionless near the bathroom door, and a foul odour filled the room. Mandrem police were then informed of the incident.
The modus operandi used in both double murder cases was similar. Both women were murdered by slitting their throats with a sharp weapon.
During interrogation, Leonov confessed having also murdered Vaneeva.
Leonov had befriended both deceased women and would frequently visit their rented rooms.
While Elena Vaneeva had arrived in Goa on a holiday on December 10, Elena Kastanova had arrived on December 24. They had become acquainted with the accused after arriving in Goa.
During police interrogation, the accused revealed that he had murdered five foreign women.
This startling disclosure by the accused led senior police officials led by Director General of Police Alok Kumar to rush to the Mandrem police station. The police officials were interrogating the suspect till late Friday night, to verify if he had committed other murders.
The two bodies have been sent to the GMC hospital at Bambolim for an autopsy and Mandrem police are conducting investigations.
