Police have arrested one suspect for the murder of perfume specialist Monika Ghurde at her home in Goa on Thursday, reports said.
The 39-year-old, who was living in a rented apartment in Sangolda village, 39km from Panaji, was found dead, with her hands and legs were tied to the bed and her flat possibly burgled. Her mobile phone and ATM card were both missing. A post-mortem report revealed she was strangled to death.
Based on transactions made with her ATM card on Friday, Goa police nabbed Rajkumar Singh, a 21-year-old man, who was formerly employed as a security guard at the building Ghurde lived in.
In a joint operation with Karnataka police, Singh was picked from a lodge in Cottonpet in Bengaluru, where he was staying after allegedly fleeing from the crime scene. The police got a glimpse of Singh from the surveillance camera at an ATM in Porvorim, which was later confirmed by the inhabitants of Ghurde's residential building. On Friday, he made more transactions at a shop in Gandhi Bazaar in South Bengaluru, which set the police on his trail.
According to Ghurde's neighbours, Singh was dismissed from his job for his unsatisfactory performance. A few months ago, Ghurde accused him of stealing an umbrella, which proved to be the last straw. The building association took her complaint very seriously and let him go. Police suspect the financial loss, along with a desire to take revenge, provoked Singh to attack Ghurde.
Rajkumar reportedly confessed to the authorities that he went to Ghurde's flat on 5 October. "When she opened the door, he threatened her with a knife and demanded money. Monika offered her debit card instead and pin number," an official told The Indian Express.
Later, as Ghurde tried to snatch the knife and scream, Rajkumar allegedly attempted to muffle her voice with a pillow. Police said he claimed to have tied her to the bed thinking she was unconscious and might scream for help again. Serological reports are awaited to verify if there was any sexual assault involved.
Goa's Flea Markets Captured On Instagram
(01 of22)
Open Image ModalTrusty Ray-Bans make the determined armour for an energetic shopping day... (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(02 of22)
Open Image ModalSleepy, inviting hammocks at the start of the market. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(03 of22)
Open Image ModalTurns out you can buy a rainbow...from a grumpy lady (see below). I pay her the VERY fair price of Rs 10 (not in her opinion) per cheap, rainbow-y ankle thread. They last for precisely three hours on my ankle before being washed away in the sea. But till then I am happy, as fascinated by them as a to-be-Indian bride in a fancy jewellery store. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(04 of22)
Open Image ModalAfore-mentioned grumpy rainbow-thread selling lady. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(05 of22)
Open Image ModalIt's not a proper flea market visit without a mug of foamy, golden beer. The food's more of a sustenance affair - carbs to keep your legs walking through the market. The beer's a welcome respite - be in in the hot sunshine or breezy evenings. And the fuzziness that sets in later to hamper your bargaining skills is never minded. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(06 of22)
Open Image ModalLittle colour bombs of wool to be threaded into your hair. Though God knows how you get them out later. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(07 of22)
Open Image ModalThrongs of colour! Brazilian-origin feather earrings that are OUTRAGEOUSLY priced - enough to offend thrifty Indian sensibilities (y'know the kinds that kick into action when you have to dole out an extra Rs 10 to the parking lot chappie). (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(08 of22)
Open Image ModalExquisite fish locks that sit as serene as the sea at dawn (it's only at afternoon that all noisy-touristy hell breaks loose on the beach). (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(09 of22)
Open Image ModalJewellery-selling locals are bound to treat you with disdain unless you sport blond hair or speak to them in Goan... a friendly smile, NOT calling them 'Bhaiya' or 'Boss' goes a long way. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(10 of22)
Open Image ModalIn retrospect, this ice cream looks like toxic waste. Back then it fit right into the Goan psychedelic scheme of things. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(11 of22)
Open Image ModalA quiet moment behind iridescent curtains in a cacophonous market. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(12 of22)
Open Image ModalBefore giving in to giant feathery earrings, consider that even a drop of sweat can spoil their giant, fluffy appearances. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(13 of22)
Open Image ModalIt sits through the sands of time. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(14 of22)
Open Image ModalA perfect opportunity to buy something I'm never going to use! (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(15 of22)
Open Image ModalSinking your toes into sun-warmed sand is therapeutic only at the beach - not at the flea market! (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(16 of22)
Open Image ModalCannot resist quoting spice is the variety of life, followed by a quick whack by friends for terrible pun. These spices bring back memories of accompanying mom on shopping trips inside musty stores with fat sellers in mustard-stained pyjamas. Even now as I dip my fingers into their powdery interiors (on the pretext of examining quality), I can almost hear my mom admonishing me not to. Something about their crumbly structure boxed up neatly makes me want to rip open the bags and watch them colour the air. Eventually after enough rummaging.... atchoo! (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(17 of22)
Open Image ModalDangling at home alone, these stars take on a forlorn, cheesy persona. But here, clustered together in the bright Goan markets, they add some lustre to the term 'star-struck'. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(18 of22)
Open Image ModalThese 'exotic' teas dot different corners of the bustling market like inky punctuation marks - a welcome break from the expanse of screaming colours blurring your vision. (Must ask: who has a palate for banana tea, anyway?) (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(19 of22)
Open Image ModalThere's a certain 'je ne sais quoi' about these tawdry plastic candle hangers, bad as an investment they are. Kind of like the playboy dance trainer your mother warned you to stay away from. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(20 of22)
Open Image ModalMezmersing swirls of brightly-tinted cane work... the ideal prop for any children's room, these don't spoil easy. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(21 of22)
Open Image ModalMore stars! (credit:Aashmita Nayar)
(22 of22)
Open Image ModalThe final curtain: gently waving hammocks bid adieu to a golden day of flea-marketing. (credit:Aashmita Nayar)