Family members suspect foul play as Salelkar was involved in property dispute
BICHOLIM
A 49-year-old woman from Karapur-Bicholim died under suspicious circumstances, after she was found electrocuted at her residence on Tuesday afternoon.
While Vasanti Salelkar is reported to have died after receiving an electric shock at her residence, family members and local leaders have suggested foul play as Salelkar was involved in a property dispute and they have demanded a thorough inquiry in the death.
According to sources, Salelkar was a spinster residing in the house in a property under dispute and had been reportedly assaulted in the past in connection with the ongoing dispute.
Salelkar had reportedly engaged a new lawyer in the property dispute and a hearing of the case was to take place on December 10.
On Tuesday evening, Salelkar had reportedly collapsed after touching a metal door which had become live as the insulation of a wire powering a bulb from one room to the next had worn out and the wire had come in contact with the metal door.
Salelkar’s family and local leaders have suspected foul play in the death.
Bicholim police conducted an investigation of the incident and also sought the services of electricity department engineers.
A junior engineer later inspected the spot and confirmed that the exposed wire had cause the current to pass through the metal door.
Bicholim DySP B V Sridevi visited the site to take stock of investigations and to interact with the family, while a police dog squad and a forensic team were also pressed into service.
Police said an autopsy on the body would be performed on Thursday to ascertain the cause of death.
Family members and social workers have demanded that the autopsy be performed by a panel of doctors instead of a single doctor.
