Thaindian News

Panaji, Oct 16 (IANS) Goa Police Friday denied arresting anyone in connection with the heinous serial killings that have rocked this state. They also reproached the television media for airing ‘baseless reports’ as they believe it could create panic and derail investigations.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Superintendent of Police (CID) Atmaram Deshpande said that contrary to reports aired on television, no arrests have been made in any of the four murders.

“There have been no arrests. The reports appearing on television are untrue. We appeal to all media persons not to create unnecessary panic or spread misinformation which could derail or hamper investigations. The media should confirm the facts and we request them not to float such unconfirmed stories,” Deshpande said.

A leading television channel in its morning broadcast Friday had said that a serial killer had been arrested in Goa and that the police had cracked one of the four murders.

The Goa Police, who have had a tiff with the media over coverage of the recent spate of murders in Goa, have downed their window of communication to only one press briefing everyday.

“As PRO (press relations officer), no calls from reporters to corroborate or confirm leads will be entertained by me during any time of the day. There will be only one press briefing in the evening, when the media can ask their queries,” Deshpande said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police R.S. Yadav has already criticized the media for wrongly linking the recent spate of eight murders to a serial killer, Mahanand Naik, who has already been arrested in April this year for killing 16 women over a decade.

“The national media is linking Mahanand Naik to this case, which is wrong. Mahanand has nothing to do with these murders. We want to clarify this,” Yadav said.

Mahanand’s murder rampage was also elaborately reported in the local media.