SNEHA HASOTIKAR
MAPUSA: In a resolute stance for justice, the family of 23-year-old Samuel Garvyn De Braganca, a college student from Gaunsavaddo, Mapusa, who died by suicide shortly after a video of him allegedly dumping roadside waste went viral online, has refused to accept his body, stating that they will not proceed with the final rites until action is taken against those responsible for his death.
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The complaint, filed by the deceased’s mother, Genevieve Antoinette De Braganca, detailed the sequence of events that the family claimed led to the tragic death of Samuel, who was to resume classes at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, after the summer break.
According to the complaint, Samuel was named as an accused in Mapusa Police Station Crime No. 69/2026 dated June 4, under Section 271 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and provisions of the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996. The family alleged that the case was registered without proper investigation and based on a viral social media video.
The complaint specifically named PI Navin Desai and PSI Mangesh Palni, accusing them of invoking “false provisions of law without application of mind” and subjecting the youth to mental harassment.
The family claimed that Samuel, along with his mother and sisters, was made to remain at the police station for nearly seven hours—from 3 pm to 10 pm—during which he was repeatedly questioned and taken into separate rooms.
“He was treated worse than a criminal,” the family stated, alleging that the police issued threats of arrest, restricted his movement, and warned him that his future—including job prospects and opportunities abroad—would be jeopardised.
Central to the case is a video allegedly recorded by an unidentified individual, showing a confrontation with Samuel over alleged garbage dumping. The family claimed the video was misleading, selectively presented, and widely circulated across social and electronic media platforms without verification.
The complaint alleged that the video’s circulation led to widespread public humiliation, online abuse, and character assassination. It further claimed that the individual who recorded the video forcibly restrained Samuel and threatened to make the video viral.
“The irresponsible disclosure of his identity by media platforms caused irreparable damage to his reputation and mental well-being,” the complaint stated.
The family alleged that Samuel was deeply traumatised following the police interaction and the online backlash. He was served a notice to appear before the police again on June 5 and was allegedly warned of arrest in case of non-compliance.
According to the complaint, the cumulative pressure of police treatment and social media harassment pushed the young man into a state of severe distress, ultimately leading him to take the extreme step.
The complaint also raised concerns regarding the conduct of PSI Ukrant Raut Desai, who is accused of behaving insensitively with the family after the incident. The officer allegedly pressured the family to conduct last rites swiftly and warned them of legal trouble related to the firearm used in the suicide.
In light of the incident, the family has demanded the registration of an FIR against the concerned police officers for abetment to suicide and other relevant offences, immediate suspension of the PI and PSI involved to ensure a fair investigation, arrest and investigation of the individual who recorded and circulated the viral video, action against media platforms for publishing unverified content and revealing the identity of the deceased and transfer of the investigation to another police station to avoid bias.
Earlier, speaking to the media, Samuel’s sisters expressed a complete lack of faith in the Mapusa Police and reiterated their demand for an independent probe under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police.
They described Samuel as a “kind, respectful, and law-abiding young man,” and appealed to the public for support and prayers while seeking justice for their brother.
There has been no official response from the police authorities regarding the allegations.
Complaints of allegations against the police have now been handed over to SP Vishwesh Karpe for investigation.
Meanwhile, the Congress Party demanded an investigation by the Crime Branch into the death of the Mapusa youth who died by suicide following a garbage dumping controversy on Friday.
The Congress demanded that the officer concerned be suspended immediately, an FIR be registered, and the matter be handed over to the Crime Branch for an independent investigation. The authorities must ensure that such incidents do not recur and that young people are treated with dignity and sensitivity at police stations.
The demand was first made by Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares who said that action be initiated against the person who shot the video of the youth allegedly dumping the waste, for making it viral and for wrongfully restraining and threatening the youth. He also sought action against the police for registering the FIR and the person who summoned the youth to the police station.
Adv Ferreira said the boy was summoned to the police station on June 5, but he was telephoned and called to the station on June 4, where he spent seven hours without notice.
“I don’t know how the issue could have been picked up by the police and an FIR registered without a complaint. If it was simply dumping of garbage, I didn’t see the reason for an FIR. It was a malicious intent of registering an FIR by the police. The video does not show what he is throwing. Police have no evidence. How did the police use section 251 of BNS to register this FIR?” Adv Ferreira asked.
Adv Ferreira said that he demands, along with the family, that this investigation cannot be carried out by the Mapusa police.
Later in the evening, Congress leaders visited the bereaved family. AICC secretary Goa desk incharge Manikrao Thakare demanded proper and impartial inquiry into the incident and that justice be given to the family.
AICC secretary Dr Anjali Nimbalkar urged the Goa government and the BJP-led administration to immediately take strict action against the police station in-charge officer for failing in his duty and for allegedly mishandling the situation. A detailed and impartial investigation must be conducted into the entire incident.
The Home Minister must also answer for this failure. The government owes accountability to the grieving mother who lost her son under such tragic circumstances, she said.
This incident raises serious concerns about moral policing and the emotional pressure faced by many young people in Goa, Dr Nimbalkar said.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar said that there was complete abuse of power by the Mapusa police and irresponsible behaviour of the police caused the victim die by suicide.
“This is abatement to suicide. The government should suspend the policemen involved and the case be handed over to the Crime Branch for a detailed investigation.”
Former Mapusa councillor Shashank Narvekar claimed that the police had no business detaining the youth for long hours at the police station. Nowhere was the youth shown dumping the garbage. In fact the activist was confronting him alleging that he had thrown the garbage. For the police to file an FIR under stringent Sections was uncalled for. They could have penalised the youth and let him go instead of making him sit at the police station and suffer humiliation.
Valerie Sequeira, a family friend of the Braganzas, stated that the youth was soft-spoken and was always ready to extend a helping hand to anyone and at any point of time. It was indeed both shocking and shattering to hear about his tragic death.
A lecturer who happens to be the teacher of the deceased, said that Samuel was a bright, disciplined and hardworking student. In fact the way the social activist was shouting and screaming at Samuel, was humiliating to hear. The police have no business to keep the youth waiting for hours together at the police station. Mapusa is stinking of garbage at every nook and corner and even the stringent actions should be taken against the councilors and municipality for letting garbage rot in the town.
When questioned about the deteriorating garbage situation in Mapusa, PI Navin Desai stated that the police had taken suo motu cognizance of the youth dumping garbage at the spot.
When brought to his notice that the video never showed the youth dumping garbage but in fact the activist allegedly confronting him for dumping garbage, he reiterated that they had lodged a complaint on basis of social media report.
When questioned the need for having detained the Braganza family for almost eight hours, he stated that they were only investigating the matter and they had let them go at 8 pm.
When confronted as to what the police were doing that garbage being dumped and left to rot in the heart of the town, he stated that they had formed teams to deter people from dumping garbage.
When asked whether they had booked any such cases against violators, he claimed that they had not seen people dumping garbage and so they could not act but was quick to add that this is the first case in which stringent sections were applied.
