Serial confusion over killer

MUMBAI: Police have denied that suspect Ravindra Kantrole has confessed to his involvement in at least four of the seven murders in south Mumbai attributed to a serial killer.

Additional Commissioner of Police (South) D Kanakratnam told DNA that police have not received the results of the brain-mapping tests on Kantrole. “It would be premature to comment on his involvement in other killings,” he said.

Police arrested Kantrole in connection with a murder at Marine Lines on January 11. He was taken to Bangalore for brain-mapping and narco-analysis tests. But the tests could not be conducted as the doctor was not available. The tests were conducted at the Kalina Forensic Laboratory.

There has been much confusion in the police department on the ‘serial killer’. Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Arup Patnaik told reporters in December that a serial killer was on the loose in south Mumbai. But Police Commissioner AN Roy said there was no such killer. “We are investigating all undetected murder cases,” he said.

Then there was confusion whether the killings were the handiwork of one or more persons, since most of the victims were men who could have easily fought off a lone attacker. Another theory that was floated was that the killer was a homosexual who killed his victims after the sex act.

A special investigation team was formed. But there was confusion about the number of officers in the team. Then, in spite of the team, the Marine Lines murder took place.