Mumbai:
Police officials say rumours of a serial killer, who dumps victims' bodies in suitcases, may be unfounded, as the modus operandi was not the same in the two cases The city witnessed one more suitcase murder on Monday, which initially led the police to believe that there was a serial killer on the prowl.
However, medical reports and methods of the killing have now led the police to believe that the murders are the handiwork of two different assailants. On March 10, the Santacruz police found a suitcase at Juhu. When officials opened the suitcase to search the contents, they found a woman aged 30 stuffed in the suitcase. Medical reports said that she was smothered to death but there were no signs of sexual assault. Police also believed that the victim was a servant.
In the second case, which occurred on Monday night, a body was found on platform number 1 of Sandhurst road station. Investigating officials found that the woman victim was aged around 25 years, was dressed in a shalwar qameez and was strangulated to death.
According to the medical reports, she was four months pregnant and was sexually assaulted. Police officials added that she also belonged to a well-to-do family. Additional Director General of Police (Railways) Raj Khilnani said, "We have asked the Santacruz police to check whether there is a connection between the Juhu and Sandhurst Road station murders. The woman was four months pregnant and was strangulated to death."
Meanwhile, senior inspector of Santacruz police station Madhukar Chowdhari said, "The woman found dead on Juhu beach was not raped, she died of suffocation. Her identity is still unknown." When asked about the method of dumping, the police said that suitcases make the transportation of bodies from one place to another easy. The police have still not been able to identify the victims. Meanwhile, railway police officials have decided to maintain a strict vigil on platforms and the police are also keeping a check on the beaches as well as tourist places.