Team Herald
PONDA: The body of an unknown person that was found on Goa-Karnataka border at Collem on January 15, has finally been identified as that of one Sangan Malank Gouda (45), a resident of Gadag in Karnataka.
It is learnt that Gouda is a farmer from Soudhi Rauna in Gadag and is survived by his widow and two minor daughters aged 8 and 6.
Late Gouda’s widow on Saturday met Ponda police and confirmed that the body found at Anmod is that of her husband. Following this, Ponda police began investigation into the murder case.
Gouda’s widow and his sister-in-law told Ponda police that they had filed a missing complaint at their local police station four days after the victim went missing. However, the local police failed to trace him.
Gouda’s family learnt of his death through an advertisement (with his photo) published by the Ponda police in locals dailies at Gadag.
Police found Gouda’s body with a nylon rope around his neck. Police suspected that he was strangulated to death. Police also suspected that Gouda was murdered at some other place.
A person travelling on this road towards Karnataka when stopped to take selfie at that place noticed the body and informed the police.
On post mortem, acid was found on the body and internal organ parts received burn injuries. This led the police to suspect that before committing the murder, the culprits must have forced the victim to consume acid and then strangulated him to death.
Ponda DySP Mahesh Gaonkar and Ponda PI Harish Marcaikar are investigating the case.
