Team Herald
PANJIM: Ten days have elapsed since mutilated body of a newborn was discovered at Siridao beach but accused, responsible for abandoning the baby that resulted in her death, is still out of police reach.
Police said they have certain leads and the investigation team is working on them. Unearthing details of newborns of last one month – prior to the death of the victim – from Goa Medical College and Chicalim Hospital have however not led to any breakthrough so far.
“Based on details submitted by the GMC and Chicalim Hospital, the Agassaim Police team members are personally visiting all these houses of newborns. We have now sought data of newborns of the same period from Hospicio Hospital,” a senior officer told Herald.
Update as on Monday evening reveals that around 215 parents out of 239 have confirmed their newborns are with them. The officer maintained police officials are personally ascertaining that newborns are safe with their respective families. “Around 199 new deliveries were reported at GMC in last one month and 40 at Chicalim Hospital. From these details, our team has completed inquiry at 215 houses and the drive continues,” he said.
Simultaneously, policemen have been checking through several construction sites, fishermen’s colony and rented premises in a failed attempt to establish identity of the deceased. “Search is not over,” the officer said while rubbishing allegations from certain sections over police’s silence on the case, “The search began ever since the day, the newborn’s body was retrieved from the beach.”
The body is currently preserved at GMC even as post-mortem report concluded that injuries were bite marks of wild creatures. While investigation is being carried out on lines with the offence registered under Section 318 (concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body) of Indian Penal Code; accused – once caught might be booked for murder if evidence points in that direction.
