A massive in stitutional standoff has erupted over the death of home guard Dinesh Gaude, with the South Goa Foren sic Department slamming the Forest Department for “unscientific” and “unau thorised” interference in a criminal death investiga tion. While the Forest Depart ment has formally request ed a police probe—claim ing a lack of animal tracks at the Bethora site—foren sic experts have hit back, asserting that the autopsy findings clearly confirm a fatal wild bison (Gaur) horn injury. On May 9, the Deputy Conservator of Forests wrote to the South Goa Superintendent of Police, raising suspicions over the bison attack theory. Forest officials argued that the scene lacked the typical physical evidence of a Gaur’s presence, such as hoof marks, dung or hair. The department also flagged inconsistencies in witness statements and questioned why the vic tim, a resident of Usgao, was at that specific isolat ed spot in Bethora on that day.
Meanwhile, South Goa District Hospital (SGDH), Margao, has in a press communiqué rejected the Forest Depart ment’s interpretation of the post-mortem findings in the Gaude death case, stating that only medico-legal experts are authorised to draw conclusions from autopsy reports. In a clarification issued on May 10, the hospital said the injury pattern and internal damage were consistent with horn injuries that “could be that of a gaur.” SGDH also termed the circulation of the post-mortem report, autopsy findings and official correspondence from the Forest Department on social media a serious breach of investigation procedure.
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The hospital further asserted that conclusions drawn by the Forest Department from the post-mortem findings were “totally wrong” and “unscien tific” and made without consulting medico-legal experts. The release stressed that the matter involved the death of a tribal youth and should be handled with utmost sensi tivity and secrecy. Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, a forensic expert, took to social media to warn that attempting to give a “clean-cheat” to wildlife in the face of medical evidence could be viewed as a “tribal atrocity,” noting that the victim was a tribal youth. Ponda Police, who initially registered the case as an un natural death, maintain that their primary inquiry points to a bison attack while the victim was urinating. The autop sy report certified the cause of death as “haemorrhage and shock consequent to multiple ante-mortem injuries involv ing the chest and pelvis,” caused by “blunt and penetrating force impact by horn injury.” The Forensic Department further expressed outrage over the leak of the confidential post-mortem report on so cial media, calling it a “serious breach in criminal investiga tion procedure.” They have demanded a separate investi gation into how the document was leaked before the police could complete their probe. The controversy has sparked criticism from social activ ists and retired officials.
Retired DySP CL Patil noted that wild bisons have been frequently sighted in the area for a decade, suggesting the Forest Department concluded its internal inquiry too hastily. Social worker Viraj Sapre demanded that the depart ment explain its failure to protect citizens, recalling a pre vious fatal bison attack on a woman in the same locality. Ponda Police stated that their investigation remains in the preliminary stage and a final report will be submitted to higher authorities once all leads are exhausted.
