PANJIM: Crime Branch, after failing to submit a compliance report within three months, as directed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa in the murder of social activist Bismarque Dias, on Thursday submitted it before the division bench after 102 days.
The bench, while directing that Bismarque’s death be registered as a murder case, had sought a compliance report every three months. The HC also transferred the case to the criminal division bench.
Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that Crime Branch has not given any importance to the witnesses and evidence pointed out by the petitioner in the petition. Crime Branch has been further asked to submit the compliance report every three months regarding progress in the investigation.
On April 11, 2017 the HC asked Crime Branch to register an FIR in the Bismarque death case based on the November 7, 2015 complaint filed by his family.
Mario Dias, Bismarque’s younger brother, had filed a complaint at Old Goa Police Station alleging the death as murder and not drowning. However, Police had not registered the death as murder and later the probe was transferred to Crime Branch.
Crime Branch had concluded that the death was due to drowning and a closure report was submitted to the SDM Tiswadi.
Court after observing that when family members had field complaint alleging murder and the body was found in suspicious conditions asked Police to register it as a murder and investigate.
Bismarque’s body has still not been claimed by the family who is demanding a thorough investigation after registering the case as murder.
