CANACONA
Locals and family members have suspected foul play in the death of Chandrashekhar alias Shekhar Velip after his body was found in the Talpona River at Bhatpal on Tuesday and have appealed to police to investigate the death as murder.
The body of 27-year-old Shekhar Velip from Nuvem-Shristhal was found floating in the river at Bhatpal, after he reportedly went missing on Sunday evening.
Police said the death had been caused due to drowning following a post mortem report but the viscera has been sent for further analysis.
According to residents, there were no clothes on the body and the face was allegedly disfigured by acid. They further refused to believe that Shekhar had committed suicide.
A memorandum to register the death as murder was submitted by Shekhar’s maternal uncle, Ashok Kusta Velip, to Canacona Police Inspector Chandrakant Gawas in the presence of Shrishthal panch members Rajesh Kuiro Velip, Ganesh Gaonkar, Darshrath Velip, Cotigao panch Prashant Velip and others.
They believe that Shekhar was beaten up with some weapons, face was burnt with some substance, the body was found without a shirt and there were fracture injuries on the left hand.
The family also raised suspicion in the manner of placement of his articles (mobile, motorcycle, etc), which they claim was not as per his lifestyle.
Accepting the memorandum, Canacona PI Gawas informed that though the circumstantial evidence points to suicide and a post mortem report had also established the death due to drowning, further action would be initiated only on receipt of chemical analysis of viscera of the deceased.
According to police sources, the victim was working as a delivery boy with an online e-commerce company and last calls traced from his mobile were on Sunday afternoon, two days before his body was found floating in the river on Tuesday.
