ST ESTEVAM: After a brief lull, the villagers of St Estevam are geared up to renew their battle to get justice for the social activist late Bismarque Dias.
After the High Court of Bombay at Goa ordered that an FIR be registered and to treat the investigation as a murder case, Herald travelled through the island of St Estevam to hear what the villagers, supporters and well wishers of Bismarque had to say.
Though the villagers have lost faith in the government machinery for its lethargic handling of Bismarque’s death case and their neglecting to hear the voices of the villagers, family and activists across State, they now hope that the killers will be punished.
“I am not that happy with the court order that has come after fighting for 10 months. I hope, the agencies will now sincerely carry out investigations to get justice which has been delayed purposely,” William Rodrigues, a local and friend of Bismarque said.
Another villager who was also a part of Bismarque’s fight for the environment, Artimisia Rangel, demanded that the police should now conduct a lie detector test on the key witnesses who were last seen with Bismarque.
“He was a tutor and was an inspiration to the young generation of Islanders. We are happy that the court has finally intervened and set aside the policy of Goa Police. They (Police) should first conduct lie detector tests on both witnesses which will spill the beans,” Rangel said.
Perpetua D’Cunha, who was Bismarque’s classmate said he was not a drunkard and this is false propaganda of the people involved in the killing. “I thank the people who stood in support of Bismarque. Justice can be delayed but cannot be denied for such a wonderful soul. I hope the police will investigate the case properly,” D’Cunha said.
Felecidade (Buna) D’Mello, sister-in-law of Bismarque said, “We have never seen him drunk, not even at social gatherings or picnics. I hope everything will now go in a proper direction. We have trust in the judiciary.”
Bismarque went missing on November 5, 2015 and his body was fished out on November 6 from the River Mandovi near St Estevam Island.
