TEAM HERALD
VASCO/PANJIM: After regularly being criticized for poor crime detection rates and their indifferent attitude, Goa police received a rare pat on the back for their quick and systematic detection of the Vasco double murder.
Despite an elaborate story weaved by Pratima Naik to include robbery and murder by unknown intruders, police were quick to find inconsistencies and contradictions in her version of events into the double murder.
The joint involvement of many senior officials to investigate the case also facilitated the speedy detection of the double murder.
Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg also played a significant role during the investigations. Garg visited the crime scene every time the SIT sleuths went there for investigations. He also extensively questioned Pratima twice, once while she was admitted in hospital and later at the police station.
Goa police had also relied on medical evidence to establish her role in the crime.
“Scientific investigation had led to the crackdown of the case. Different versions given by Pratima were medically proven wrong. One such claim that unknown robbers had sprinkled chilli powder in her eyes was quickly ruled out as per the medical report,” IGP Garg told Herald. Residents were quick to praise the police for their speedy detection of the double murder.
Praising Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar and his police team for cracking the case in quick time, Peter De Mello of Vasco claimed that criminal activities have reduced since PI Ekoskar took charge of Vasco police. “Citizens are relieved to know that their lives are safe,” said De Mello.
Another senior citizen, Shekar Naik, added, “If the case had to go undetected like the previous two murder cases, the citizens would have lost all faith in the police. We are lucky to have a police officer like PI Ekoskar. I also want to thank the other police officers who contributed their time in solving the case,” he added.
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida also heaped praises on SP Shekar Prabhudesai, Vasco DySP Laurence D’Souza, PI Ekoskar and other policemen for their involvement in detecting the double murder.
Expressing happiness that people had reposed their faith in the police, PI Ekoskar said the main credit for detecting the case should go to two Local Investigating Bureau (LIB) officers, Prushotom alias Ballu Naik and Sachin Bandekar.
“These two police officers worked hard in the case. It was also with the combined efforts of DySP Laurence D’Souza and other investigating police officers under the supervision of SP Shekar Prabhudesai that the case could be solved within short time,” added PI Ekoskar.
Meanwhile, the police department’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has sent viscera samples of the ictims, Usha Naik and Dr Neha Naik, to the forensic science laboratory at Bangalore to ascertain whether they were drugged before being killed.
“I have spoken to the FSL Director requesting them to expedite the result,” said Garg. “The report will also confirm whether there was any other kind of poisoning in their organs.”
With major investigations covered in less than a week of the crime, the SIT is expected to file a charge sheet in the case.
