NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The death of Fr Jose Bismarque Desedorio Dias has been classified as ‘accidental death’ by the sub-divisional magistrate, Panaji, based on the crime branch investigation and the postmortem report.
With this decision the case now stands closed, said a police officer.
An order in this regard was issued by sub-divisional magistrate, Panaji, Gaurish Shankhwalkar recently.
After being satisfied with the report of the crime branch and on the strength of postmortem report conducted by GMC doctors the SDM in his order has said the death of Fr Dias, who died due to asphyxia as a result of drowning in water, is classified as “accidental death summary”.
Police sources said that in cases of unnatural deaths probe report is submitted to the SDM under section 174 CrPC.
The crime branch probe in the Fr Dias death case had ruled out murder angle. With no scope for further investigation the police had submitted the report to the SDM in February this year.
Body of the 51-year-old priest-turned-social activist, who was resident of Palmarwaddo, St Estevam, was found floating in the river near a sluice gate in his village on November 7, 2015. Two youngsters had accompanied Fr Dais on the night of November 5 to the sluice gate from where Fr Dias reportedly went missing.
Family, social activists and villagers had said that they would not conduct funeral for Fr Dias unless authorities act against the culprits “responsible” for his death.
The body of Fr Dias has been preserved in the GMC morgue.
Goa Green brigade will hold a candlelight meet to protest against what they have claimed as shoddy police investigation and
sudden and clandestine closure of the case. The meet will be held on Thursday at 6 pm on the steps in the precincts of the Our Lady of Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji.
The first postmortem report had attributed the cause of death to drowning, but following demands of Fr Dias’ family and social activists who suspected foul play, a second postmortem was conducted.
The final report of the second postmortem from the forensic department of the GMC had said that Fr Dias died due to drowning, and the report was based on the forensic and DNA reports.
According to the police, reports on viscera, diatom and DNA tests had ruled out possibility of murder angle.
Both the youngsters, who had accompanied Fr Dias to the sluice gate, were questioned separately and their explanation was said to be same, ruling out any kind of suspicion.
However, to ascertain the facts, the police had moved applications in the courts seeking permission to conduct lie-detector test on the two youths. A court had granted permission to conduct the test on the 18-year-old youth while the plea with regard to the other youth who is minor in age (17 years) was rejected.
Later, the Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, turned down the crime branch plea to conduct the lie-detector test on the 18-year-old youth on the basis of mental condition of the youth.
The youth is said to be mentally unsound and he has a certificate from the IPHB, Bambolim
A family member of Fr Dias had earlier written to the crime branch, requesting not to conduct lie detector test on the youngster, the police said.