Cops yet to establish how Samuel obtained firearm
MAPUSA
Nearly two weeks after a 22-year-old youth allegedly died by suicide using a country-made pistol, Mapusa police have registered a case under the Arms Act against the deceased for illegally possessing the firearm without a valid licence.
The deceased, identified as Samuel Braganza (22) of Gaunsa-vaddo, Mapusa, allegedly shot himself between the night of June 3 and the early hours of June 4.
During the inquest proceedings, police recovered a country-made pistol and an empty cartridge from the scene.
Police later confirmed that the weapon used in the suicide was not licensed and had been illegally possessed by the deceased.
Based on the findings of the investigation, police have registered an offence under relevant provisions of the Arms Act against Braganza for possessing and using a firearm without a valid licence.
Police sources said that efforts are underway to determine how the deceased procured the pistol and whether any other persons were involved in supplying the weapon.
“We have not yet established where the pistol came from. The deceased's mother and sister have stated during questioning that they were unaware of how Samuel obtained the firearm or how long he had been in possession of it,” a police officer said.
The investigation has also revealed that a day before his death, a video allegedly showing Braganza dumping cardboard waste along a roadside in Gaunsa-vaddo was recorded by another youth on a mobile phone. The video reportedly went viral on social media on June 4.
Following the circulation of the video, Mapusa police had registered a case against Braganza for the alleged littering offence on the same day.
Police are also examining claims that the youth may have been under mental stress in the aftermath of the incident and the subsequent social media attention. However, officials said the exact circumstances leading to the suicide are still under investigation.
