India, Feb. 19 -- Two separate murders reported within less than 24 hours in Navi Mumbai have put police on high alert, with parallel investigations underway to trace the accused and determine the motives behind the attacks.

The first case surfaced on Monday morning when the body of an unidentified man, estimated to be around 35, was found in an open space near a drain in the Mahape Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area.

Officials said they discovered the body before 8.35am on February 16 near the MIDC pump house on the road towards Gupta Weighbridge.

Initially registered as an accidental death, the case was converted to murder on February 17 under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after preliminary fin...