OLD GOA
After a month, the search for the missing youth Bashudev Bhandari was resumed in the Cumbharjua canal at St Estevam on Monday, as a joint operation was conducted by the Old Goa fire personnel, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, Old Goa police and others.
The father of the youth, Narayan Bhandari, and his brother, Balram, were also present and monitoring the search operation.
The search operation started in the morning with the fire personnel first canvassing the canal in their boat along with the marine police.
A drone was also put into service by the Old Goa police conducting aerial surveillance of the canal and the mangroves area in an effort to get any clue of the missing youth.
Later, the Indian Coast Guard personnel arrived along with the divers and they too conducted search of the canal at various places where they observed that there was a possibility of a body getting stuck.
However, despite the search operation continuing till evening, it did not yield any success and it was called off.
Later speaking to reporters, the youth’s brother Balram said the search was probably conducted to clear any doubts that the body is in the water.
“Probably, the police missed something in their initial investigation due to which the search was conducted. Now that they have cleared their doubts that the body is not in the water, it is important for us to know how the police will take the investigation forward,” Balram informed.
The youth’s father Narayan, however, appeared disappointed over the way the investigation is being conducted and reiterated that the body is not in the water.
“From day one, I am saying that my son is not in the water and in the missing complaint it was clearly mentioned,” Narayan stated.
“Now, the police would have got some clarity over how to take the investigation forward,” he added.
SDPO Sudesh Naik and Old Goa PI Satish Padwalkar were also present during the search operation.
