Four murders & a mystery: Cops look for serial killer pattern

“The spot where the body was found is frequented by autorickshaw and truck drivers to relieve themselves. We rounded up a few drivers to find out the identity of the woman,” said A Shaikh,senior inspector,Malwani police. “We found a pen knife from the spot,which was probably used to cut the woman’s neck,” added another police officer.

Police officers from Santacruz,Kurar in Malad (East) and Mira Road are also investigating the murders of the women whose bodies were found in their areas. While comparing notes,they have arrived at a set of similarities. “All the four appeared to be in their twenties and from lower middle class. The women were brutally murdered,” said a police officer.

“From two of the four spots,we recovered knives near the bodies. The four women have brutal assault marks on their faces and other parts of the bodies,” said Subhash Dafle,senior inspector,Kurar police. “We had detained autorickshaw and truck drivers as the body of the woman found in Kurar was not from the area or surrounding localities,” he said.

Police officers are awaiting forensic reports to ascertain if the women were raped. The officers,however,said it was difficult to state if the murders were committed by a serial killer. The modus operandi appeared to be different,said an officer. “In Santacruz,the woman was found naked,while in Malwani,the victim was beheaded. In Kurar,the body was found in a gunny bag. In Bhayander,a knife was found stuck in the victim’s neck,” said Shaikh.

Sunil Paraskar,additonal commissioner of police (north region),said,“We are studying the four cases but so far we have not established anything that could link them.”

Case 1

Near Raheja College,Santacruz (West)

The naked body of a woman with her throat slit was found dumped in a nullah. The body was not decomposed and bore injury marks on the face.

Case 2

Malwani,Malad (West)

The beheaded body of the woman was found in the mangroves. She was wearing a green salwar kameez and did not appear to be a local. Her head was found a little away from the body.

Case 3

Kurar,Malad (East)

The woman’s body was found on the premises of a housing society. The victim was strangulated to death and stuffed in

gunny bag.

Case 4

August 17 Bhayander

A woman’s body was found dumped in the paddy fields near Bhayander railway station. A kitchen knife was found thrust in her throat.

Similarities

All the four women appeared to be in their 20s and from lower middle class.

They were not residents of the areas from where their bodies were found.

They were brutally murdered with assault marks on faces and bodies.

Bodies were dumped at secluded spots.