the goan I network
OLD GOA
Former Merces sarpanch and current panch Prakash Naik alias Poka, was found dead from a gun shot at his residence at Voilem Bhat, on Friday, sending shocking waves among his supporters of St Cruz constituency where he had unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections in 2017.
Naik was found lying unconscious on the bed of his room when his sister, Sarita Govekar, along with her daughter had gone to look for him after he failed to turn up at the temple where the other family members were holding a puja.
Naik was later moved to the GMC where the doctors declared him brought dead at around 11.15 am.
As news of the death of Naik spread, people started thronging his residence at Voilem Bhat-Merces. A suicide message sent allegedly by Naik on a social media platform also came to light wherein he named two persons and held them responsible for the extreme step.
In the second message, the names of two other persons are mentioned in which they are thanked for their help and in the third message, Naik says goodbye to all his friends and asks them to help his family.
North Goa SP Utkrisht Prasoon, DySP Uttam Raut Dessai and Old Goa PI Krishna Sinari arrived at the scene to supervise in the investigation of the case.
A forensic team also arrived
at the site to conduct detailed investigation in the matter, as the family raised suspicion of foul play behind the death.
Old Goa police also picked up the driver, gardener and the maid for questioning. Police sources also informed that two persons mentioned in the second message were also being interrogated as they were the last ones to be contacted by Naik over the phone.
The police also recorded the statements of the family members.
Meanwhile, the body of Prakash Naik has been preserved in the GMC morgue and the post-mortem will be conducted on Saturday morning, which is most likely to throw more light in the case.
