PANJIM: The Congress party in Goa has demanded that investigation into the death of US tourist Caitanya Holt be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as it raises suspicion into the Goa police’s probe.
“There should be a thorough inquiry as to why he was chased. The mob that chased him should be identified and quizzed. We can’t rely on the local police investigation. The case should be handed over to an agency like CBI as a foreign national is involved in it,” party’s general secretary Sunil Kawathankar said.
Pernem police, relying on the autopsy report had said he died of suffocation in the sludge after falling in the paddy field, has ruled out foul play.
The Opposition has however questioned this theory stating, “This is for first time we heard someone dying of choking in mud… The police are trying to hush-up the case.”
The foreigner was chased by a mob who allegedly mistook him as a thief at Pernem last week. He fell in the field where he was trapped in the mud and died of suffocation, police had said.
The incident, Kawthankar said, indicated worsening law and order situation in the State. “A foreigner chased to death will send wrong signal in the tourism circle, because on one hand we promote Goa in the US, and the other, we are not able to protect our visitors,” he said.
