The killing spree over the weekend on the outskirts of this Goa capital ended Monday with the arrest of 54-year-old Fernandes, a small time contractor who allegedly tried to wipe out the family from Maharashtra who worked for him as labourers.

The traumatised six-year-old girl and four-year-old boy were allegedly thrown off a cliff by Fernandes and his associate Ramesh Bagwe but were rescued and are now undergoing treatment in hospital.