PANJIM: While Old Goa Police remain tight-lipped on the ongoing probe into the death of former sarpanch Prakash Naik, his grieving family has demanded the arrest of two persons named in the suicide note until which they will not accept his body from Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
Naik, a panch of Merces panchayat, had purportedly shot himself at his residence on Friday morning. GMC had declared him brought dead. The family members, who held a press conference at their residence on Saturday, have suspected murder pointing at bullet injuries on Naik’s chest.
“We will not accept the body for cremation till the police arrest the persons. The Whatsapp message sent by my brother has clearly accused them of harassing him,” Sarita Govekar, Naik’s sister said.
“The police have still not recorded the statement of persons named in the message or issued them summons but instead are calling the well wishers through summons. We have no faith in the conduct of the Old Goa Police. We want the case be handed over to the Crime Branch for an impartial probe,” Naik’s brother Vinay said.
It is learnt that first persons to be questioned were the Naik family’s servant and driver, with no others quizzed till the second day of the incident that shook Merces.
Old Goa Police have registered a case of unnatural death. Police, on Friday evening had said that all those connected with the case will be summoned for questioning. “We are investigating the case from all angles and anyone connected with the matter will be questioned,” a senior officer had informed Herald.
Naik had contested the 2017 Goa Legislative Assembly election on an MGP ticket from St Cruz Assembly constituency.
