A first suspect, local youth Vasudev Ozekar, is also in custody, and police say more arrests may follow.
While the motive behind the murder remains unclear, SP Akshat Kaushal, addressing the media on Sunday, confirmed that the probe is intensifying and new details are emerging.
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Shravn Barve was found murdered in what police now describe as a well-planned and cold-blooded conspiracy
Discovery of the Body
On April 15, Valpoi Police were alerted to the presence of a dead body near a temple in Ambede. A team comprising Valpoi police officials and forensic experts reached the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation. The deceased was identified as Shravan Barve, a 24-year-old local resident of Ambede, by his relatives.
Initial examination and a panchnama (scene investigation) suggested suspicious circumstances. Upon forensic recommendation, the case was swiftly upgraded to a murder investigation, and an FIR was filed under Section 103 of the (BNS) against unknown persons at 2:00 PM the same day.
Formation of Special Investigation Team
Given the gravity of the crime, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was promptly assembled. The team included the SDPOs of Porvorim and Bicholim, along with Police Inspectors from Bicholim and Valpoi.
A Birthday Party and a Crucial Breakthrough
As investigators struggled to gather leads, local residents pointed police to a nearby birthday party that had taken place on the same night Shravan was killed. The celebration occurred close to both Shravan’s house and the eventual location of his body.
On interrogating attendees of the party — who stayed on late watching an IPL match — police uncovered a crucial clue. Several witnesses reported seeing Shravan walking nearby during the event.
This led to a major breakthrough: the arrest of 43-year-old Vasudev Ozekar, a daily wage laborer and resident of Ambede, on April 18. According to police, this is the first arrest in the case.
