TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa Police, who are still clueless about the identity of the murderer in the Canacona fisherwoman homicide, have announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 to anybody who provides leads in the case.
Canacona Police, who called it a ‘blind murder case’, have now handed over the case to the Crime Branch, who are combing the taluka for the last five days for clues.
Sources suspect that she was also allegedly raped in a secluded spot near ITI at Mastimol before being strangulated. Her body was discovered by her neighbours last Friday.
A senior police officer told Herald that they have checked out more than 100 persons including migrants from the locality while the investigation team has also made door-to-door calls.
“It is a blind case till we get concrete evidence… Though we have rounded up suspects and some more are under police scanner, we are leaving no stone unturned to nab the culprit,” the police officer said claiming that more than 100 policemen from the CB and South Goa district are on the job to make a breakthrough.
With no circumstantial evidence in hand, the team, at least for now, is completely dependent on the scientific evidence as it is awaiting report of the victim’ s DNA sample from the central forensic laboratory after the post mortem. “We are not ignoring any rumours…We are acting on all information coming to us,” he added.
Prima facie, the investigators believe the crime is committed by a local criminal who knew the victim. “The brutal act doesn’t appear to be the handiwork of a local. It is an act of an outsider. But we cannot rule out any possibility at this stage,” said the officer.
While the CB team is camping in South Goa for the last five days, Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr O P Mishra visited the victim’s family at Tarir-Rajbagh.
“A reward of Rs 50,000 has been declared for any one who shares any valuable information which will help in solving the case of murder of Vijaya Pagi registered at Canacona (police station). This information may be shared with Superintendent of Police (Crime) Kartik Kashyap (7875756017), Superintendent of Police (South), Shekar Prabhudessai: 7875756009 or Deputy SP CB Sammy Tavares on 7875756053. The name of the informer will be kept secret,” a press statement issued through police PRO reads.
Canacona correspondent adds: At-least one youth, who was questioned on Tuesday and reportedly sent back, known to be close to a family member of the deceased, is learnt to have been called back and quizzed today.
During the first disposition, the youth is learnt to have proved his innocence by proving his presence elsewhere on the day and time of the alleged rape and murder, but Crime Branch sleuths after reportedly stumbling upon fresh questionnaire called back suspecting some uneasy disposition by the youth in his earlier round.
Many people including an ex-MLA and sitting councillor publicly informed that the sexual act has been carried with the woman over her body, before she was brutally raped and murdered.
According to her husband, Shashikant Pagi, while her mobile had gone missing, her cloth money bag disappeared with all the money, but her phone dairy, which was in the money bag was found nearby her body.
“Her mangalsutra and earnings were intact on her body. She did not wear the gold bangles that day. Her phone dairy has been taken by police for investigation,” Pagui informed.
