Goa Double Murder: Russian Man Arrested in Brutal Killings of Two Compatriots, Investigation Seeks Motive Behind Grisly Slayings

Goa,  — Goa Police have apprehended a Russian national in connection with the chilling double murders of two Russian women in North Goa’s Pernem taluka, prompting an intensive probe into the motive and circumstances of the killings.

Police have identified the accused as 37-year-old Aleksei Leonov — a Russian national who had travelled to India on a business visa and is believed to be a fire display performer by profession.

Leonov was taken into custody early on Friday following a manhunt that began after the bodies of the victims were discovered in separate locations in Morjim and Arambol.

The deceased have been identified as 37-year-old Elena Vaneeva and 37-year-old Elena Kasthanova, both Russian nationals.

Authorities are working to determine whether the victims arrived in India together or met each other after arriving independently; early reports suggest they were acquaintances, but their exact relationship and how they came to know Leonov are still under investigation.

According to police accounts, the first murder is believed to have occurred late on January 14, when Vaneeva was found with her throat slit inside her rented room in Morjim around 11 pm.

The incident was reported by her landlady, prompting initial inquiries. The next evening, on January 15, Kasthanova was discovered murdered in her rented accommodation in Arambol.

In her case, police said the accused allegedly restrained her by tying her hands behind her back before fatally attacking her with a sharp-edged weapon.

Both bodies were later recovered by police on Friday, after which officers intensified their search for the suspect.

Leonov was located and arrested by Mandrem police, and the case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

In preliminary questioning, Leonov has acknowledged being “friendly” with both women, but Goa Police say the motive behind the alleged murders remains unclear, with detectives continuing to question the suspect and gather forensic evidence.

Authorities are also awaiting post-mortem reports to add clarity to the timeline and circumstances surrounding the killings.

Investigators are exploring several angles, including whether a personal dispute, financial issues, or a psychological breakdown might have triggered the gruesome act.

Police are also examining digital evidence, local interactions, and witness statements in both Pernem villages as part of their ongoing inquiry.

The double murder has shocked residents and visitors in the coastal tourism belt, raising questions about the safety of foreign nationals living or travelling in popular beach communities.

Goa Police have assured the public that all leads are being pursued and that more details will be released as the investigation progresses.

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