PANAJI
In what seems like a movie twist, a man, officially declared dead three months back, stunned his family and the Goa police by returning home alive. His wife and son, who had identified the dead body in October 2023 and held his funeral in their home village, have now confirmed that this man is Marcos Milagres.
The 59-year-old somehow travelled to Thane-Mumbai where he was found wandering on the streets and subsequently lodged in a beggar’s home. An NGO was instrumental in unravelling the mysterious story when its representatives shared his photo with Agassaim Police to check his identity.
The man had earlier gone missing on September 19, 2023 and a missing person’s complaint was registered with the Agassaim police station. Days later on October 7, 2023, a body was found near Hindu Pharmacy, which was then shifted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital where he was identified as Marcos.
Police sources said that the deceased’s identity now remains unknown with the present revelation.
“Marcos’ cousin identified the body first because of a tattoo on the hand. He shared the photo of the “Cross” tattoo with Marcos’ wife and son who are living in the UK. They returned to Goa, identified the body as that of Marcos and conducted his funeral,” the police said.
Three months later, Marcos emerged alive. “It was a photo from an NGO in Mumbai that alerted us. He was found in Thane-Mumbai with a wound on his head. The authorities there shifted him to a beggar’s home where he underwent treatment and care,” the police said adding, ‘Being mentally unsound, Marcos always failed to give his correct identity except that he lives in the Agassaim police station jurisdiction. With the help of this lead, the NGO shared his photo with the Agassaim police’. The photo was then forwarded to the Panaji police who had submitted NOC to Marcos’ wife after the previous identification.
The police further said that Marcos’ wife and son were once again called to Goa, who have re-confirmed the man’s identity; however, Marcos has been sent to a rehabilitation home.
With the matter now raising many questions, the police have approached relevant authorities in Goa to modify the last documents in the name of Marcos whereas the ‘look-alike’ deceased’s identity remains a mystery.
