from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld News Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, May 12: The death count by a serial killer in the state went to nine with the killer confessing of two more killings of young women in the state.
Mahanand Naik, 40, arrested for killing young women in and around town of Ponda after luring them with marriage proposal confessed on Tuesday May 12 morning of killing two more girls.
The former autorickshaw driver, was on a serial killing spree since 1994 and is being interrogated by police to probe his link with 16 missing girls from the town, after they got his confession in nine cases..
Police sources confirmed that the murdered have been identified as Mahanand Surat Gaonkar and Nirmala Ghadi.
Mahanand, married and father of one-and-half-year-old girl, was arrested following a complaint of rape by a girl, claiming to be his wife’s friend. During the police interrogation, Mahanand confessed of killing two young women and in the subsequent interrogations, he went on confessing about his killings.
Deputy superintendent of police Serafin Dias said that they have till date got the confessions about nine killings at different spots, all isolated one.
Police stated that the killer used to put to death the girls by strangulating them with their dupatta.
Till date, mahanand has confessed of killing, Darshan Naik (1994), Vasanti Gawade (1995), Sunita Gaonkar (2003), Anjani Gaonkar (2005), Surat Gaonkar (2006), Nirmala Ghadi (2006), Kesar Naik (2007), Nayana Gaonkar (2008) and Yogita Naik (2009).
The young unsuspecting girls in the wide age group of 19 to 33 years were allegedly lured by Mahanand by proposing them the marriage offers. On the designated day, Mahanand used to call girls with him wearing golden ornaments and later kill them by taking them to isolated spots.