Team Herald
MARGAO: In a murder that has sent shockwaves across the State, a 30-year-old woman from Curtorim was found dead at an isolated place near Rivona. After a day long investigation, 25 year-old Shailesh Velip was arrested by Quepem police late Friday night while police are still on the lookout for others who are suspected to be involved in the case.
Earlier on Friday morning, a body was found at a place between Rivona and Malkarnem. Initial investigation revealed that the girl was found strangulated or smothered with the scarf. A handbag was also found beside her body. Soon it was cleared that it was the body of the deceased – Valencia.
The Curtorim resident was working as a medical attendant at a X-Ray clinic in Margao. According to the family members the victim Valencia had left the house for work like usual on Wednesday morning but did not return at night. After inquiries about her whereabouts, her family started panicking and started searching for her and filed a missing police complaint at the Maina Cutrorim police station.
Once the body was confirmed to be that of the deceased, the police launched a man hunt for the accused and a dog squad was pressed into service while a forensic team also carried out investigations at the site. Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar and Former MLA of Sanguem Subhash Faldessai also visited the site. Quepem police arrested the Keri resident, who reportedly worked as a security person at an establishment in Margao and had contact with the deceased. Police are carrying out further investigations and looking at other details such as how the victim reached Rivona. According to the police the victim had bruise marks on her neck as well as her legs. According to her relatives, Valencia was supposed to get married in September. She was the youngest sibling among 4 sisters.
