Russian national arrested for killing two women friends in Goa

Russian national Aleksei Leonov held for allegedly killing two compatriots in north Goa, police say investigation is ongoin

PGurus Newsdesk

January 17, 2026

Double murder in Goa: Russian man kills two women within 24 hours

Police say the accused slit the throats of two Russian women in Morjim and Arambol within 24 hours

A Russian national has been arrested in North Goa for allegedly murdering two women friends by slitting their throats in separate incidents within 24 hours, police said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Aleksei Leonov, is suspected of killing fellow Russian nationals Elena Vaneeva and Elena Kasthanova, both aged 37, in the coastal villages of Morjim and Arambol.

According to police, Leonov allegedly murdered Vaneeva in her rented room in Morjim on the night of January 14, slitting her throat with a knife. The crime reportedly occurred after 11 pm, following an altercation, based on a complaint filed by the victim’s landlady.

After the first murder, the accused travelled to Arambol village, about eight kilometres away, on the evening of January 15 to meet his other friend, Elena Kasthanova. Police said Leonov tied her using rope-like material before slitting her throat.

The bodies of both women were recovered on Friday, prompting a manhunt that led to Leonov’s arrest by the Mandrem police.

Police have registered separate cases and said a detailed investigation into the double murder is underway to ascertain the motive behind the killings.

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