MAPUSA
Judging by the public out roar and accusations of inept investigation, for the Goa Police, the mysterious death of 19-year-old Nachinola girl Siddhi Naik at Calangute beach, may well bring back haunting memories of the Scarlett Keeling episode, when the 15-year-old British girl was found partially clothed on Anjuna beach in 2008.
Like it did in 2008, in the Siddhi Naik case in 2021, appears to have put the reputation of the Goa Police on the line, especially with the State heading for an election in 2022 and harsh public opinion about the police shoddiness gaining momentum.
Just like in the case of Siddhi Naik’s case, Goa Police in 2008 had claimed that Scarlett Keeling’s death was due to drowning and therefore suicide. After immense social and political pressure as well as constant pursuit for justice by Scarlett’s family, Goa Police later registered the case as culpable homicide following a second autopsy, which revealed that the girl was drugged and raped.
The probe was later handed over to the CBI on repeated pleas made by Scarlett’s family, especially her mother Fiona Mackeown, even as the Goa Police was accused of trying to “hush up” the case.
Interestingly, in the case of the death of the Nachinola girl there is no scope of conducting a second autopsy as the girl was cremated soon after her post-mortem report ruled out sexual assault and physical violence.
In fact, the fast paced developments happened all in a day. The body of Siddhi was found at around 6.30 am, the autopsy report came out in the afternoon and her body was cremated in the evening on the same day.
Several questions are being asked as to why the police allowed the family to dispose of the body in such a hurry, when the circumstances surrounding her death were mysterious.
“The SP’s statement after the post-mortem report stating that there was no foul play at all was very immature. The very fact that they are still investigating the matter, that statement created more chaos and confusion. Even if there is no foul play the final traces of how the girl landed there is not established. They also cannot find her clothes,” said Trajano D’Mello, senior spokesman for Congress.
With wide media attention, the death of Siddhi Naik is turning out to be a politically sensitive case in an election year much to the chagrin of the BJP.
The Nachinola teen’s case and the recent rape of two minor girls on Benaulim beach has also brought to the fore the question of women’s safety on Goa’s famed beaches.
The role of the government and the police in particular to ensure safety of citizens in the touristic State has come under intense scrutiny from the civil society.
