Today we briefly review the crime scene in Goa in the first quarter of this year which undoubtedly had been quite challenging for the police. Starting with the shocking double-murder of young siblings by their father who later died by suicide, to the biggest spike in traffic deaths, daring theft by a lawyer in the very court premises, and assaults on tourists. It has been a mixed blend of incidents in the otherwise peaceful and hospitable Goa.
Despite being the country's smallest state, any case in Goa grabs national and international attention. The Goan tries to highlight some of those cases and the fate of the investigation, in this weekly column.
Not a 'Joy'ous New Year
for Candolim family
The killing of a teenage daughter and her seven-year-old brother and the subsequent suicide of their father Joy Fernandes had shocked the entire village, leaving everyone in a state of disbelief and mourning. The motive behind the crime has since been unclear and villagers haven’t come to accept that a cheerful and family man like Joy could take a drastic step of killing his children.
On January 7, Joy left this home around 10 am to hand over some property documents to his nephew, though he barely owned any property. He returned home at around 11:30 am where his children were playing. His wife was away. What happened next, until the bodies were recovered from different places, remains a mystery. The assumption is that he strangulated his children with nylon rope and then walked into the jungle to hang himself to a tree.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and support, and the need for communities to come together to support those who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Investigation to be closed!
The police claimed the team conducted a thorough investigation, including analyzing forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing CCTV footage of nearby locations. Surprisingly, the CCTV footage of the Fernandes family's residence was out of order. However, the police are reportedly unable to find any conclusive evidence that could possibly lead to a motive or potential suspects.
The case is likely to be closed in what could disappoint many who are hoping for answers. Sources said the local police might soon submit a closure report to the Court. The police have stated that they have exhausted all avenues of investigation and are still unable to find any evidence that could lead to a murderer or abettor, if any.
Road mishaps that
rocked the State
The first two months were the riskiest period to be on the roads. Around 5-6 accidents were reported on average per day and one death every 27 hours. It certainly raised serious apprehensions about road safety. Goa is also paying a heavy price for widened roads and highways given that motorists often tend to speed up without constant monitoring. Several accidents were also a result of rash driving or thick fog, but the pathetic conditions of the roads and their poor quality are also being blamed.
Corrective measures at snail's pace, others ignored
Amid the blame game amongst the link agencies, Traffic Department suggested various measures to be executed by the public works officials. A spate of serious accidents woke up the authorities to undertake corrective measures. Repair of the damaged crash barriers and installing new ones at other accident-prone zones, the rectification of engineering faults, etc have begun, albeit at a snail's pace.
Traffic fine collection crosses Rs 7 cr in 3 months, cases up in one month
Strict enforcement has finally begun. SP Traffic Bossuet Silva has ensured strict and consistent enforcement of traffic rules. Data says it all. As on March 31, the department has collected a huge amount of Rs 7.30 crore towards penalties for various violations. The total number of violations registered in one month, March 2023, has been around 48,000 while the cumulative figures for January and February had been 67,000. The total number of accidents has dropped but unfortunately, fatalities didn't, considering that some serious accidents led to multiple fatalities.
Goa's image at
stake, again
Being a tourist state is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, tourism is a major source of revenue that, after mining, is contributing significantly to the economy of Goa; on the other hand, the influx of visitors is also leading to various problems, including cases against and involving visitors.
Rising instances of tourists with a 'Goa mein sab chalta hai' attitude need to be dealt with strictly. The ruckus at a resort in Anjuna was one of them. The tourists who took to social media questioned the safety of visitors in the tourist hub and police inaction, which ultimately prompted the Goa Police to suspend the investigating officer, police sub-inspector Francisco Xavier and strengthen the FIR by invoking non-bailable offence against the locals including the resort staff Royston Dias. But while the police remained tight-lipped over the provocation and manhandling of the staff by the rowdy tourists, the locals demanded action.
Delhi tourists booked
After strong public anger against tourists' alleged unlawful act and the police's silence despite video evidence, the local police on March 28 booked FIR against the main complainant Adv Ashwin Kumar and six unknown on charges of routing under sections 143, 146 and 148; 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 504 (intentional insult with intend to provoke breach of peace) read with 34 (common intention) of IPC.
It is, however, not known why the police are secretive about the matter and whether the tourists, who were adamant not to re-visit Goa to join the probe, are summoned or questioned.
Worker molests Dutch
woman, local rescues
A 29-year-old Dutch woman was allegedly molested and stabbed by a homestay staffer at Pernem hours after she arrived for a yoga retreat in Goa. She travelled to Rajasthan and Mumbai where she had a safe holiday until she arrived in the coastal state.
The accused staff Abhishek Verma was arrested but this has once again questioned Goa's image as a tourist destination. This comes against the backdrop of advisories issued by various embassies in the past over the safety of their citizens in Goa. The fortunate part however was that a local Eurico Dias came to the female tourist's rescue after hearing her cries. Over a week ago, two hotel staffers were arrested for allegedly assaulting a Russian woman.
These incidents have left a lasting impact on the State.
