PANAJI
Jail authorities initially attempted to mislead the Crime Branch probe into the murder of Colvale Central Jail inmate Ashpaq Bengre while offering the theory that the infamous gangster fell on a pointed hanger which pierced his neck causing his death. The probe was handed over by Mapusa Police to the Crime Branch team headed by Police Inspector (crime) Dattaguru Sawant late Tuesday night. However, when the Crime Branch team visited the scene of offence on Wednesday to conduct a preliminary inquiry, jail authorities offered several theories as to how Bengre died while in custody. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source disclosed, “The first theory laid out was that Ashpaq Bengre fell on the pointed hanger and died when it pierced his neck. Another tale spun by the jail authorities was that Bengre fell on a mosquito coil holder causing his death.” However, CCTV footage acquired by the investigating team from Crime Branch shows Karbotkar indulging the deceased in a conversation outside his cell on Tuesday morning while showing him some newspapers. While Bengre was busy reading the paper, Karbotkar moved behind him from the left and stabbed him in his neck, the footage shows. A source disclosed that the accused had used a knife of around 6 inches to commit the crime. “Bengre was attacked with a small knife. He was stabbed multiple times in the neck, one of which slashed his jugular vein which led to his death,” a source said. Shockingly, it has also come to light that Vinayak Karbotkar, the accused, roamed free in the jail even after committing the murder in broad daylight while in jail. “This could have given him crucial time to hide the murder weapon,” hinted the source referring to the missing weapon. Several questions are also being raised by the investigating team as to how the weapon used by one inmate to murder another while imprisoned in a central jail can go missing. While, the exact motive for the murder has yet to be ascertained and presence of external influences have yet to be ruled out completely, it has been learnt. An inquest post mortem was conducted on Bengre s body by two doctors at Goa Medical College and hospital on Thursday morning in presence of Deputy Collector, Bardez Narayan Gaad. The same was video-recorded and Bengre s body was handed over to his brother for carrying out the last rites. Meanwhile, the government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Ashpaq Bengre even as sources disclosed serious security lapses in the Colvale jail. “JMFC, Mapusa will inquire into the incident and find the reasons behind the death of the under trial,” said Inspector General of Prisons, Elvis Gomes. Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa on Wednesday remanded Vinayak Karbotkar, the accused, to five days in police custody. In their say, the Crime Branch police sought remand on various grounds. It was stated that the probe itself is in the preliminary stages. However, stress was laid on recovery of the murder weapon which has disappeared under suspicious circumstances from the scene of offence.
