Goa cops nab man accused of killing 16 women since '94

PANAJI: The Goa police claim to haveunmasked a serial killer of women with the arrest of Mahanand Naik, an autodriver. Naik, arrested last month, is charged with murdering at least 16 womenover the last 15 years. Naik ran out of luck on January 14, whenpolice began investigating a case of a girl's disappearance. A cellphone trail��� where IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity, a code unique toeach handset) was used ��� led cops to a woman who told them how Naik hadbeen blackmailing and raping her for four years.Naik was arrested onApril 21. And what followed has stunned Goa. According to Goa police, Naik beganthe killings in September 1994 when a woman was found hanging from a tree atBambolim near Panaji. The police had registered a case of unnatural death andmade no progress thereafter. Naik has been owning up to one or two murders everyfew days. In some cases, Naik has even led the police to where he had disposedthe bodies."His modus operandi was to befriend girls with marriageproposals. He would then ask them to put on gold ornaments, saying he was takingthem to meet their would-be in-laws. Once they stepped out of their homes, Naikwould take them to a secluded place and strangulate them," said DSP SerafinDias. The victims were chosen carefully. All of them came frommiddle class backgrounds on the lookout for grooms. Most victims were agedbetween 19 and 30. He strangulated most his victims with their dupattas, earninghimself the monicker of 'dupatta killer'. Sources said it was the lure of goldthat led Naik to the gruesome killings. Public anger is runninghigh. Recently, a mob set Naik's house afire. Some are alleging that Naik'swife, Pooja, was his partner in crime as it was she who had introduced theirdaughters to him. Ostracised, Pooja and her child are now seeking shelter at astate-run home. Pooja said, ''I never had any reason to suspect Naik, a dotingfather and devoted husband.''