Serial killer on the loose targeting flour mill owners?

Mumbai: A killer with a possible motive of robbery has killed his third flour mill owner since September.

All three murders have taken place one month after another and the killer has employed a similar modus operandi in all three incidents, said cops.

The latest victim, 50-year-old Phulchandra Yadav, was killed inside his shop on November 24 in Dahisar, while the first murder took place at Kalyan in September and the second murder occurred at Mumbra in October.

Officers from all three - Dahisar, Mumbra and Kalyan - police stations are currently conducting joint investigations to identify and trace the killer.

Police said that in all three murders, the killer used a hammer kept inside the flour mill to bludgeon his victims to death. Police have detained many suspects for questioning, but had to let them go due to inconclusive evidence.

Shocking methods

According to the police, the serial killer first befriends his victims, and then kills them a day prior to the mill downing its shutters for the weekly holiday.

Using the hammer as a weapon, he attacks the victim on his head.

The heavy blood loss eventually kills them. Shockingly, in all three cases, the killer created a barrier with the flour to stem the blood spilled on the floor from seeping outside the shop.

Cops said that the killer would then make away with money and mobile phones of the victims.

First murder

On September 28, mill owner Rajkumar Jaiswal (38), was murdered inside his shop located at Kalachowkie area in Kalyan.

Police said the deceased was killed in the wee hours of the morning, and the incident only came to light when a woman, who wanted to grind some wheat, lifted the shutter to find the owner's body lying in a pool of blood.

The Bazar Peth police station in Kalyan is investigating the case.

Second murder

On October 4, mill owner Devilal Jaiswal (30), was found murdered inside his shop at Mumbra.

The deceased, who owned Pratik flour mill near Diva railway station, was again found early in the morning.

Mumbra police is investigating the case.

Third murder

The third murder took place at Dahisar on November 24. Shrikrishna flour mill owner Phulchandra Yadav, who was staying alone, was hit on the head with a hammer.

The incident came to light the next morning when locals spotted blood seeping out of the mill, and informed the police.

Policespeaks

Sunil Deshmukh, ACP of Dahisar division, said, "It is the same modus operandi in all three cases, and we suspect they have been committed by the same person. Based on some leads, we have dispatched a police team and hope to arrest the accused soon."

Arun Sonde, senior police officer at Mumbra police station, said, "In all cases there is a distinct similarity. We are coordinating with the other two police stations. It is a very serious matter and so we cannot disclose any information now."

RR Patil, senior police inspector at Bazar Peth police station in Kalyan, said, "We are in constant touch with the other two police stations, and we have a team. It seems the serial killer is making a habit of murdering flour mill owners."