TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Even 24 hours after the tragic death of three Russian women tourists due to drowning after their water sports boat capsized off Betul coast on Tuesday, the Goa police are yet to ascertain whether the ill-fated vessel had the requisite permission from the government agencies to operate the vessel.
In another development, water sports activity came to a grinding halt along Salcete’s coast line on Wednesday after the Captain of Ports despatched messages to the key operators to stop the activity until further orders.
Even as reports did the round that the ill-fated vessel might have been operating without the required NOCs, Margao Sub-divisional Police officer DySP Mohan Naik said the police cannot give a clear-cut answer whether the ill-fated boat had NOCs or not. “We have not yet arrested the owner of the boat Tevis Aguiar so far. It is only after his arrest the police will come to know through interrogation and documents whether the vessel had the NOC or not”, the DySP said.
When questioned whether the owner has moved the South Goa Sessions court for anticipatory bail, DySP Naik said his office has not received any information on the owner knocking the doors of the Sessions court for bail. “I will ascertain from my office whether the owner of the ill-fated boat has moved for anticipatory bail or not”, he added.
Meanwhile, contractor of the boat Nobby Barretto and operator Jagbandhu Jaya Naik, who were arrested last night in connection with the incident, has been remanded to two days police custody. The duo had moved the court for bail, but the court is believed to have reserved orders in the case till October 31 after hearing the defence and prosecution.
Water sports operators, sources said, are expected to approach the Captain of Ports and other authorities on Thursday, seeking permission for operation of water sports, from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Russian consulate officials arrived in Goa today. With the help of local police, the consulate officials visited the respective hotels where the deceased resided and conducted panchama of their belongings. It is gathered that the consulate is also making necessary arrangements to take the deceased bodies back home.
