TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: A 44-yr-old widow missing since the past two days was found brutally murdered in a forest at Gaondongrem-Canacona on Friday. One person has been detained in this connection.
The torn clothes of the victim ~ identified as Shrimati Mono Gaonkar of Gaondongrim ~ who was found dead with her throat slit and other injuries, has fuelled speculation that she may have been a victim of or tried to resist a sexual assault before she was killed.
According to Canacona Police, the body of Gaonkar was found by the side of a pathway in the forest at Anamol, about 2 kms from her residence.
Gaonkar, who was residing along with her two children at Nanem-Gaondongrim, had reportedly gone missing since Wednesday, but police sources confirmed that no missing complaint had been filed at the Canacona police station.
Gaonkar was found dead with multiple injuries on her throat and hand, but police did not find any weapon around the body. The police sent the body for an autopsy and declined to ascertain if the woman had been sexually assaulted prior to her murder.
“The cause of death and public speculation about a sexual assault before the murder will only be known after the post-mortem report,” Canacona Police Inspector Harischandra Madkaikar told Herald.
Later in the evening, Quepem DySP Goltekar visited the Canacona police station to take stock of the situation and a special team led by PI Madkaikar is investigating the case.
Police detained a suspect in the connection and were in the process of interrogating him, while efforts were on to locate another suspect.
The incident has shocked the taluka and leaders cutting across party lines were quick to condemn the heinous crime and demand the quick arrest of the accused.
