VASCO: The two accused who killed Amir Naik on Thursday evening at Ranghavi Estate, Bogmallo, were arrested early Friday morning, police said.
Nine teams of South Goa police worked for 12 hours throughout the night to nab the accused who had fled with the weapon.
Police said the duo was hired to kill the victim. They were engaged by a person from Uttar Pradesh who lives in New Vaddem, at the behest of another person, police said. Incidently, the victim is also a resident of New Vaddem.
Both the Uttar Pradesh natives — Shailesh Ramasare Gupta, 29, from Gorakhpur and Shivam Sarvajeet Singh, 22, from Jaunpur — were arrested from Cansaulim railway station and taken into seven days police custody.
Naik was shot in the head at close range outside a house in an affluent colony at Bogmallo, where he had gone with a friend. He later succumbed to injuries in hospital.
The victim was involved in property dealings and mining, and also operated a transport business.
Police said that although it was suspected that the motive for the murder was a property deal gone awry, investigations are under way and all angles are being probed, including a love affair.
Superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar Singh said, “The accused came to Vasco twice to meet Naik. The accused were specially invited by a friend to commit the crime.”
Both accused had arrived in Goa around 10 days ago and stayed in Anjuna. They rented a car from Calangute to drive to Vasco.
“We found empty cartridges in the hired car. We are investigating how they procured the weapons. We are also probing the network behind the crime,” Singh said.
Police have rounded up some persons who came in contact with the accused to obtain more information about their activities in the state.
Hiring contract killers to murder a local businessman has put the spotlight on high-profile people being involved in the case, police said.
“The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. Investigations have revealed the names of more people and information connected to the murder. We are hopeful of cracking the case and arresting more and closely-connected people with the case,” he added.
Sources said that the accused worked as a crane operator and part-time truck driver in Maharashtra. They are known to be contract killers, police said, adding that efforts are under way to learn more about their background by contacting police in other states.
