Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Tension at Khola as resident killed in hit-and-run mishap

Family, locals refuse to take body till absconding accused nabbed

THE GOAN NETWORK | APRIL 13, 2021, 12:13 AM IST
Tension at Khola as resident   killed in hit-and-run mishap

The deceased, Paixao de Nilanova Fernandes, of Khola.

CANACONA

Tension prevailed at Khola after a 48-year-old man from the village was killed in a hit-and-run mishap along the Saleri slope late Sunday evening.

The distraught family and angry residents have refused to take possession of the body until Canacona police nab the prime suspect, a yoga instructor from UP, who is accused of driving in a rash and negligent manner, leading to the death of Paixao de Nilanova Fernandes, of Kazumoll-Saleri in Khola.

According to Canacona police, the incident is reported to have taken place at about 7.30 pm when Fernandes, who was employed at a shack in Agonda beach, was walking back home.

A car allegedly driven by a yoga instructor from UP knocked down Fernandes along the Saleri slope, killing Fernandes on the spot.

The accused, who has been residing at a rented room in Agonda and reportedly operates a yoga centre in Khola, allegedly fled from the scene, even as a large number of people gathered at the site.

On noticing the car speed away, someone followed the car and later found the vehicle abandoned along one pathway to Khola beach. The vehicle was found with a heavy dent on the bonnet and police was alerted about the abandoned car.

Canacona police later sent the body for an autopsy at Margao and launched a manhunt to trace the absconding driver.

One Monday morning, a large number of people from Khola gathered outside the Canacona police station to demand the immediate arrest of the accused. The distraught family and angry locals said they would not take possession of the body to conduct final rites until the accused is arrested by police.

Meanwhile, the entire village of Saleri-Kazumoll in Khola was plunged into grief following the tragedy.

Lullu, as the victim was fondly called, is the only earning family member, and is survived by an elderly mother, wife and their three minor sons aged 11, 9 and 4 years.

Incidentally, Lullu's second son is among the children to receive their first holy communion at the Agonda church on Sunday.

“We are trying to get justice for the little ones who have lost their father and the family has lost their only earning member,” said Meryl, one of the residents who has been campaigning for police action to nab the accused.



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