Goa Double Murder: Russian Arrested
Compatriot women killed in Morjim and Arambol; police say crimes occurred on consecutive nights
GG News Bureau
Panaji, 17th Jan: A Russian national, Aleksei Leonov, has been arrested in north Goa for allegedly killing two compatriots in separate incidents over two consecutive days, police said on Friday.
According to Mandrem police, Leonov first killed his friend Elena Vaneeva, 37, inside her room in Morjim village on the night of January 14. Officials said he slit her throat with a knife after 11 pm. The case came to light after Vaneeva’s landlady reported the crime to police.
The following evening, on January 15, Leonov travelled about eight kilometres to Arambol village, where he met another acquaintance, Elena Kasthanova, also 37. Police said he tied her with rope-like material before killing her in a similar manner by slitting her throat.
Both bodies were recovered on Friday, leading to Leonov’s arrest by Mandrem police.
Senior officers said the accused is being questioned to establish the motive behind the killings and whether there were prior disputes with the victims. A detailed investigation is underway, and further legal action is being taken as per procedure.
