PANAJI
A 31-year-old manager of a prominent apparel showroom in Panaji lost his life 81 days after he was brutally assaulted by a group of locals over a trivial matter. The police acknowledged the severity of the case only after the victim’s post-mortem report ascertained ‘meningitis’ following trauma to the head even as the assailants still remain at large.
The incident that occurred during the late hours on February 19 has sent shockwaves throughout the local community leaving his family and friends grief-stricken. The Panaji police on Wednesday registered a case of ‘culpable homicide not amounting to murder’ under section 304 IPC against the main assailant Myron Fernandes.
Police stated that Sumeet Megeri, a resident of Kamrabhat was beaten mercilessly when the Royal Enfield Bullet bike - parked near a restaurant in Miramar - accidentally fell while he was leaning on it. Fernandes, along with his 3-4 friends, got into a verbal spat with the victim which escalated into a fight wherein the accused “abused Megeri with filthy words and assaulted him with fist blows and kicks.”
Complainant Abhishek, who came to his brother’s rescue was both threatened by the accused after which Sumeet was taken for medical followed by a police complaint. The provisional hurt certificate stated that the victim sustained simple injury on the right side of his head. As per the police records, the victim was hospitalized 61 days later when he complained of feeling unwell. With his condition deteriorating the private hospital referred Sumeet to the Goa Medical College on April 24 where he succumbed to post-attack injuries on May 10.
The cause of death in the forensic report, contents of which have been shared with the media, opined that the head injury as mentioned in the hurt certificate led to meningitis ‘sequela to infected scalp hematoma as caused by blunt force impact by surface and object’.
The accused, who is yet to be arrested, is also booked under sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) read with 34 (common intention) of IPC.
