MARGAO: The family of 25-year-old Richard Costa, who died when a tree fell on him while commuting on his scooter has refused to accept his body and demanded that an FIR be registered against the Public Works Department (PWD) and Forest Department officials.
The family has even objected to the post-mortem.
On Wednesday, the victim’s father Antonio Costa lodged a complaint with the police against the PWD highway division and forest department for the negligent act.
It may be recalled that on Tuesday (July 6), young seafarer Richard died on the spot at Nuvem after a tree fell on him while commuting on a scooter. Tree cutting work was underway on the National Highway at Nuvem by the PWD. As the victim was proceeding to Nuvem on his bike, suddenly a tree crashed on him.
The victim’s father has stated that the negligent act caused the death of his son.
“The culprit should be booked for the act of negligence as Richard was only earning member of my family and seek justice for my son’s death”, he stated in the complaint filed before Maina-Curtorim Police.
The family members demanded that till an FIR is registered against the officials, they will not take Richard’s body into custody for final rites.
DySP Harish Madkaikar said Maina-Curtorim Police have received the complaint from the relatives of the victim and the police are investigating the matter. He admitted that no post-mortem has been done.
On the other hand, sources informed that the PWD officials are blaming the forest officials for the negligent act.
