More than a month after the suspected suicide of 22-year-old college student Samuel Braganza of Gaunsavaddo, Mapusa, the investigation appears to have reached a standstill, with police yet to make any significant breakthrough in a case that had triggered widespread public outrage and demands for accountability.
Samuel allegedly died by suicide at his residence on June 5 after sustaining a gunshot injury from a country-made pistol. The incident shocked the State, particularly after allegations surfaced that he had been subjected to relentless trolling on social media and harassment following the circulation of a viral video purportedly showing him dumping garbage at a public place.
Despite the passage of several weeks, police have neither traced the origin of the illegal firearm used in the incident nor identified how the college student came into possession of it. The unanswered questions surrounding the weapon continue to remain one of the biggest gaps in the investigation.
FRESH QUESTIONS
The case assumed an even more disturbing dimension after the post-mortem examination reportedly revealed a serious injury to Samuel’s right eye, sustained several hours before the fatal gunshot wound.
The finding prompted demands for a deeper probe into the circumstances leading to his death and whether any other persons were involved.
The revelations sparked protests in Mapusa, with residents and various organisations marching to the Mapusa Police Station demanding an impartial investigation and action against those responsible.
Samuel’s family and local political leaders also accused the police of negligence and sought an independent inquiry.
PROBE UNDER FIRE
However, police have yet to identify those allegedly responsible for circulating the defamatory video or determine whether their actions amounted to abetment of suicide.
No substantial progress has been made public on either front, fuelling criticism that the probe has lost momentum.
In the wake of public pressure, Samuel’s mother lodged a complaint with the police administration, following which an independent inquiry was entrusted to Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Karpe.
The findings of that inquiry are expected to influence the future course of the investigation.
AWAITING CLOSURE
Yet, there has been little official communication on whether the inquiry report has been submitted or what conclusions, if any, it has reached. The silence has only deepened public speculation and frustration.
For a case that once dominated public discourse, the Samuel Braganza investigation now risks becoming another file that slowly fades from attention. Until police answer the fundamental questions surrounding the firearm, the alleged online harassment and the circumstances preceding his death, the case is unlikely to bring closure either to the grieving family or to a community still waiting for answers.
