MARGAO: Canacona police registered an offence against 76-year-old Shabu Velip for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, following a fatal hunting incident that claimed the life of 56-year-old Khushali Velip on Monday. Velip, who was arrested on Monday night, was booked under Section 304 read with Section 34 of the IPC, as well as under Section 25 of the Arms Act of 1959 for possessing arms or ammunition.
Furthermore, Shabu Velip was also booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, aimed at safeguarding wildlife and flora.
The incident unfolded on the morning of April 7, when Khushali Velip succumbed to a gunshot wound at the South Goa District Hospital, Margao. Reports suggest that Khushali sustained the fatal injury during a boar hunting expedition with a group of individuals in the forests of Canacona around 11 am. During the customary practice known as ‘bhovandi’, an annual hunting ritual, Khushali was accidentally struck by a gunshot, said sources.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Canacona police camped in the forest area for over 30 hours to gather evidence and ascertain the sequence of events leading to the incident. Questioning over 20 individuals, the police concluded that the fatal shooting was a result of an unintended discharge during the annual hunting activity.
Initially classified as an unnatural death, the case has now been elevated to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, leading to the arrest of Shabu Velip, after a detailed investigation in the matter. Canacona PI Harish Raut Dessai led the investigations and camped in the forest with his team.
