PANJIM: The chemical analysis report of the viscera of Fr Bismarque Dias will decide whether Goa police will investigate the case as murder or close the investigation as an unnatural death.
The investigation team had sent the viscera samples to Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad soon after the second post-mortem was conducted on the body a week ago.
“If the viscera samples report concludes anything suspicious, then we will probe the case as murder. We are relying on scientific evidence to establish the murder angle,” a senior police officer told Herald.
The samples have been sent on priority to CFSL with a request that the tests be conducted on an urgent basis. “We will send them a reminder if the report is not received in the next few days,” the police officer said.
Similarly, the blood-stained vest, recovered from the crime spot at St Estevam, will also be sent for DNA profiling this week. At the same time, the investigation will look into how the police force could miss out on this evidence despite a combing operation in the area that lasted about two-to-three days.
With the reports of the two scientific tests pending, the department has come across a new twist to its ongoing probe. Sources said Fr Bismarque had opposed the sale of donated land by a church body to private players. “Many had donated land across different places to the church body but it was allegedly being sold to private players. When Fr Bismarque came to know about it, he started a campaign against the move,” a reliable source said.
Questions have also been raised as to why the church body has not issued any statement on the death of the priest till date.
Meanwhile, several activists and individuals have formed separate groups to give justice to Fr Bismarque. While some are contemplating moving the High Court of Bombay at Goa, seeking an impartial probe, others are demanding that a dedicated and an upright high-ranking officer investigate the case.
Social activist Sabina Martins, who is amongst those closely monitoring the case, said they are waiting for the crucial forensic reports to decide their future course of action.
