Double Tragedy in Goa: Russian National Arrested for Gruesome Murders

Russian national Aleksei Leonov was detained for allegedly murdering two women, Elena Vaneeva and Elena Kasthanova, on January 14 and 15 in Goa. Vaneeva was killed in Morjim, while Kasthanova met a similar fate in Arambol. Both crimes involved throat-slitting, and the police are investigating further.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Panaji | Updated: 16-01-2026 22:54 IST | Created: 16-01-2026 22:54 IST
Double Tragedy in Goa: Russian National Arrested for Gruesome Murders
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Russian national Aleksei Leonov has been apprehended by Goa police on charges of committing a shocking double murder. The alleged offenses took place in the villages of Morjim and Arambol, targeting Leonov's compatriots Elena Vaneeva and Elena Kasthanova early this year.

According to police reports, Leonov first murdered Elena Vaneeva, 37, in Morjim by slashing her neck with a knife late at night on January 14. The brutal act came to light following a complaint lodged by Vaneeva's landlady, who reported the incident post 11 p.m.

Leonov next proceeded to Arambol, approximately eight kilometers from Morjim, where he allegedly killed Elena Kasthanova, also 37. Authorities discovered that she had been restrained with a rope-like material before her throat was slit on January 15. The bodies were found on Friday, initiating an ongoing investigation by Mandrem police into the heinous crimes.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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