The incident is reminiscent of British teenager Scarlet Keeling’s murder, whose semi-nude bruised body was found in a similar manner at Anjuna’s seashore.
In the Arambol incident, which incidentally occurred close to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s residence, locals suspect that the woman – who appears to be South Indian – could have been a victim of rape and murder.
Quoting local residents, panch member Inacio Daniel D’Souza said the woman was last seen on the beach where she descended from a late night party at a beach shack. “She was partying till 4-5am at the beach shack. Thereafter she went to the beach where she was accompanied by around three (unidentified) boys,” he said.
The passersby were shocked to see the body – in a bra and denim shorts – washed ashore. Aged about 25 years, police say the woman had gone for a swim after the party. “We assume she was in an inebriated condition when she went to the beach. But we are yet to ascertain the facts as this is the version of the locals,” Pernem PI Devendra Gad told Herald.
Pernem police have registered a case of unnatural death though they don’t rule out foul play. “The autopsy will reveal everything but a post-mortem will be possible only after the body is identified,” Gad said.
Meanwhile, locals allege that Pernem police were informed about the party at the beach shack but no action was taken against the organisers. One of the locals, who is also a member of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, alerted the police about the alleged illegal party, hours before the incident occurred.
“The police did nothing to stop the party. Instead one hawaldar mentioned in the station diary that two personnel, including one Home Guard, were sent to the spot at about 12:20 am to stop the party. But the party was on till 4-5 am. Had any action been taken, the incident might not have occurred,” he said.
Police are trying to identify persons who knew the woman to establish more facts.
