COLVA: A day after the partially decomposed body of Akhtar Raza Kusanur, 22, was found near a canal at St Jose de Areal, Maina-Curtorim police arrested Sandeep Gupta in connection with the alleged murder.
Police suspect Gupta murdered Kusanur, a fish vendor, for money. The victim had Rs 30,000 in cash with him at the time of his death. “Gupta convinced Kusanur to accompany him to Nessai on a two-wheeler, where he attacked him on the back of his head with a wooden stick. He later smashed the stick with a stone to destroy evidence,” police said.
A relative of the victim had lodged a missing person’s report on November 14. Three days later, his body was recovered at Nessai.
After examining the crime scene, police suspected it to be a case of homicide and an offence of murder was registered.
South Goa police formed multiple teams headed by police inspectors of various police stations in its jurisdiction to identify suspects through local intelligence and technical evidence.
DySP Shivendu Bhushan told TOI that relatives of Kusanur were questioned and CCTV footage in the vicinity was watched to gather leads during the investigation before zeroing in on the accused.
Gupta, a native of Bihar, has been staying in Goa for the last 16 years and operates a general store in Dicarpale. Gupta and Kusanur knew each other as they both reside in Dicarpale.
Murder weapons and other possessions have been recovered, the police said.
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