PANAJI/SANGUEM/MARGAO
In a shocking case which came to light on Sunday afternoon, an 18 year-old girl was allegedly found drowned at a shallow stream in Cuncolim and within a few hours of this incident, the police found a 22-year-old man, suspected to be her acquaintance who was last seen with her, had ended his own life.
According to the police, Cuncolim Police on Sunday afternoon received a call from the Primary Health Centre in Balli, Cuncolim about a case of alleged drowning. The deceased, Anisha Velip (18), was a resident of Khedem-Paddi, Cuncolim. She was brought dead to the PHC.
Accordingly, a case of unnatural death was registered at the Cuncolim Police Station. Inquest proceedings were conducted and the body was sent for preservation at TB Hospital, Margao.
However, sources from the police have revealed that during the investigation, it was observed that the water level at the stream, where Anisha allegedly drowned to death, was very low.
When they made enquiries, the police discovered that a male friend of the deceased, Sarvesh, was seen around the deceased’s home. The fact has been corroborated by witnesses and has been brought on record by the police during their investigation. Anisha's mother has stated that she had spotted him near the location where Anisha was found lying in the rivulet.
However, during the search, the police failed to find Sarvesh at his residence. Soon after, he was found hanging from a tree near his residence at Cavrem in Quepem.
Quepem Police have registered a separate case of unnatural death in this regard and are conducting an investigation into the death.
Both bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further investigation is in process.
Even as mystery shrouds the deaths of two, the police have not ruled out anything and are awaiting the post mortem examination reports to shed light on the deaths.
As news of the death of young girl spread in the hilly village of Paddi on Sunday noon, the district top police brass, including district police chief, SP Pankaj Kumar Singh, Sub-divisional Police Officer, Margao Sahil Sarangal and Cuncolim Police station in-charge, PI Terrence D’Costa rushed to the site of the incidence to take stock of the situation.
At Cavrem village, Quepem Police station in-charge, Santosh Desai rushed to the spot where 22-year-old Sarvesh Gaonkar allegedly committed suicide by hanging. “The deceased was found hanging on a tree with a nylon rope, meters away from his house”, PI Desai said.
Meanwhile, Cuncolim police station in-charge, PI Terrence said the police is not ruling out anything at the moment in connection with the death of the 18-year-old girl. “Preliminary inquiries have established that the deceased boy, Sarvesh was seen in and around the place where the girl was found dead. We do not rule out anything for the moment. The post mortem examination will throw light on the exact cause of death of the girl,” PI Terrence said.
The post mortem examination is expected to be conducted on Monday.
