CANACONA
The traditional ‘Bonvdi’ to hunt for wild boars turned fatal for one of the 'Bonvdekars' when a 53-year-old hunter from Soliem-Khola was accidentally shot dead in the Paryemoll forest at Khola.
Traditionally, 'Bonvdi' is carried out by the menfolk of the community to kill wild boars during Shigmo festivities.
According to sources, the hunters choose a particular forest and cover all sides in different groups, as the gunmen venture deep inside the forest to track and shoot wild boars.
As the group were moving in one direction, Khushali Velip, an employee of Goa Doordashan, who was part of one of these groups broke away from the group, and went ahead to shoo away some monkeys in the forest.
As he was returning to join other members, one of the gunmen from another group noticed some movements and suspecting it to be a wild boar, fired in that direction.
The hunters were horrified to learn that they had accidentally shot Velip, who was lying motionless in a pool of blood. The panic-stricken hunters beat a hasty retreat from the area.
One group member, however, spilled the beans and the village elders reportedly persuaded the members not to abandon one of their members in such a situation.
The hunters and family members brought the bleeding Velip and shifted him to the South Goa District hospital in a hope to revive the wounded man.
However, doctors declared Velip dead on arrival and accordingly, notified the Canacona police.
According to Canacona police, since the incident took place in Paryemoll area which is a neighbouring area of Khola village, it is yet to establish the jurisdiction of the police station.
However, since the deceased and the 'Bonvdi' group hail from Soliem-Khola, Canacona police registered an unnatural death and launched an investigation as preliminary inquiry revealed that the death was caused due to a firearm.
Canacona police began recording the statements of those who had participated in the ‘Bonvdi’. As the election code of conduct is in force in view of upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Canacona police have taken strong cognisence of the death by use of firearms.
“It is a serious matter, and needs to be properly investigated. Further investigation will be carried out after post-mortem report is out. Till now, no one is detained or arrested in the case,” Canacona PI Harish Raut Dessai is reported to have told media persons.
According to sources, the body was released to family members for final rites.
“A lot of religious rituals related to the ‘Bonvdi’ were at stake, and had to be conducted within a time-frame. Hence, authorities on special request handed over the body for cremation, which was conducted on Monday evening,” informed a reliable source from the locality.
