Officials point to missing hoof marks, unusual injury pattern
PANAJI
The State Forest Department has sought a detailed police investigation into the “suspicious” death of a Home Guard from Bethoda village in Ponda, whose death was initially attributed to an attack by a gaur -Indian bison, citing several inconsistencies in the incident and post-mortem findings.
Dinesh Gaude (48), a Home Guard, died on May 7 after he was allegedly attacked by a wild bison near a forested patch at Bethoda.
While the autopsy confirmed that Gaude died due to severe horn-impact injuries and haemorrhagic shock, the Forest Department has expressed doubts over whether the injuries were actually caused by a gaur attack. The department pointed out the absence of hoof marks, dung, or gaur movement signs at the spot, along with suspicious injury and bloodstain patterns.
In a communication addressed to the Superintendent of Police, South Goa, the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests pointed out multiple suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident and urged police to conduct a detailed probe.
According to forest officials, inspection of the spot failed to reveal any hoof marks, dung, hair or other signs indicating the movement or presence of a gaur in the area. The department also questioned the injury pattern recorded in the post-mortem report, stating that it did not resemble injuries typically seen in bison attacks.
The post-mortem report reportedly mentioned a single penetrating wound measuring around seven centimetres near the buttock and perineal region, besides a superficial abrasion on the neck.
Forest officials observed that the blunt-surface injury and absence of multiple trauma marks raised serious doubts about the theory of a gaur attack.
The department further noted that the incident allegedly occurred around 6.15 pm, when visibility was still adequate, making it difficult to explain why the animal involved could not be clearly identified by those present.
Officials also questioned the victim’s movement through the isolated forested route, pointing out that access to a nearby wine shop was available directly from the highway side, with no apparent reason for him to pass through the forest patch.
Stating that several inconsistencies had emerged during examination of the scene and medical findings, the Forest Department has urged police to thoroughly investigate all aspects surrounding Gaude’s death.
Forensic team rejects doubts, counters Forest Dept claims
MARGAO: The death of Home Guard Dinesh T Gaude at Bethoda-Ponda has brought officials of the Forest Department and doctors attached to the Forensic Medicine Department at South Goa District Hospital, Margao, face to face over the cause of death.
A day after Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ponda, Jiss K Varkey, IFS, wrote a letter to the South Goa Superintendent of Police with a plea to investigate Gaude’s death by analysing call data records/tower dump in the case, Associate Professor FMT, GMC and in-charge, Department of Forensic Medicine, SGDH, Dr Madhu SG Ghodirekar on Sunday asserted that the pattern of injuries on Gaude’s body and the internal damage were similar to horn injuries, which could be that of a gaur.
He further said officials of the Forest Department have no authority to draw their own inferences regarding the cause of death. In fact, he said the damage in this case is much more severe than that caused by cows or bulls, which explains everything.
Issuing a clarification on “opinions” being circulated through a so-called letter addressed to the Superintendent of Police, South Goa, by the Office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, North Goa Division dated May 9 pertaining to the death of Dinesh T Gaude, he said forest officials have no authority to draw inferences from post-mortem findings on the dead body of a human being, adding, “If they have taken opinions from veterinary doctors, they too have no authority to give opinions on our report.”
As regards making the autopsy report viral, Dr Madhu said his department has not issued the report to anyone except the police. “When inquired with, the police investigating officer too has not issued a copy to anyone except the Forest Department. Since the said copy of the Forest Department letter and copy of the post-mortem report are being circulated on social media platforms, it is a serious breach in criminal investigation procedure,” he said.
In fact, Dr Madhu said the Forensic Department will demand an investigation into the selective leak of this highly confidential document until the police investigating officer completes the investigation. Since this is the death of a tribal youth, every official responsible should handle these documents with utmost secrecy and sensitivity, he added.
Clearing speculations based on the circulated copy of the post-mortem (PM) report, he said the claims of the Forest Department regarding inconsistency between the police theory of death due to a gaur attack and the findings in the PM report are based on unscientific interpretation. “The pattern of injuries on the body and the internal damage are similar to horn injuries, which could be that of a gaur, wherein officials of the Forest Department have no authority to draw their own inferences. In fact, the damage in this case is much more severe than that caused by cows or bulls, which explains everything,” he added.
