The murder of British tourist Stephen Bennett in Maharashtra has put police in a puzzle. The dead body was found in Malsai hamlet, 130 km from Mumbai, 20 km off the Mumbai-Goa highway on December 10.

Now investigative agencies are trying to find some answers such as why he came to Malsai hamlet and why the locals went hostile against him.

One villager said that we know nothing. It is possible that he was gone mad. He must have hanged himself out of some frustration.

Like this villager, others too were looking reluctant to say anything in this matter. On Wednesday when the investigating team arrived in the village, there was an eerie silence and most doors were shut. The children were not playing outside.

The authorities are not ready to believe on the words of villagers. They said that

how can they say that they know nothing. The corpse was hanging on the hills. The place is five kms away from the village. Without the help of 4-5 people it is impossible to a body to that place, tie a saree around his neck and then hang it on the branches.

On the other hand, Nirmala Ramesh Manae, a eyewitness has been changed his statement given to the police. Now she is saying the same thing that he does not know anything.

She had said earlier that

when she was going out for nature’s call in the morning. She saw Bennet coming towards her. He followed her even to her house and continued to bang on the door. Then her husband and brother-in-law rushed to help and tackled him.

On the basis of her earlier statement, the police have arrested Ramesh, Vithoba, Nathuram Ganpat Mohile and Kashinath Sitaram Morate in the charge of murder.

Police are looking-out for two others accused who are absconding. But still Police is under suspicion that why Bennett cancelled his Mumbai trip and came out from the Madgaon-Mumbai train at Roha station.

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