MAPUSA: In yet another case of drunken driving, 42-year-old Sachin Venu Gopal Kurup, a Pune native, was arrested by the Anjuna Police for allegedly driving his car in a reckless and negligent manner into the premises of La Maior Roma Resort and for crushing to death the resort owner 57-year-old Remedia Mary Albuquerque and injuring two other resort staff. The victim was standing outside the reception area speaking on her phone to a client when the accused drove a Haryana registered SUV bearing Reg No. HR - 13 - G - 1831, at top speed, hit her on Saturday night.
The two resort staff who sustained injuries in the incident were Shiv Mangal Dindo (22) and Rupa Paras (31).
According to the police, the accused, presently residing at Villa Casa Blanca, Assagao, had gone to visit his friend at the resort where the tragic incident occurred. The impact of the accident was such that Remedia died on the spot. In this connection, the Anjuna police booked the accused for committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The police have registered an offence under section 304 IPC and are conducting further investigations. The accused was arrested and remanded in four days police custody.
The locals in the area alleged that the accused could barely stand, was not in his senses and neither had remorse for the crime he committed.
When questioned Anjuna PI Prashal Dessai said, “We don’t know whether he was in a shock state of mind after seeing the accident or in an inebriated state. To rule out all possibilities, we have sent the accused for an alcohol and drug test”.
The villagers also alleged that as the bleeding victim was battling for her life between the wheels and smashed against the pillar of the resort, a foreigner walked straight towards the Ford Endeavour bearing Reg No. HR - 13 - G - 1831, opened the door and left with a black coloured bag, leaving them stunned. Locals demanded that an inquiry be conducted as to who the woman was and what contained in the bag and what was the need for the tearing hurry to vanish with the bag having little concern to the one that was dying under the wheels of the car.
Meanwhile, on receiving the tragic news and the incidents that unfolded later, tempers began to flare and irate villagers marched to the Anjuna Police Station in the morning and in the evening demanding that the police bring the case to its logical conclusion.
They threatened to gherao the police station on Monday if the case was swept under the carpet.
The locals charged that the high and mighty cannot get away with crimes in Goa and vowed that they would knock every door to secure justice to the victim and see to it that severe punishment is meted out to the accused.
The Anjuna residents have charged that these are fallouts of late night parties. People party the whole night, drink, take drugs and drive in a rash and negligent manner which result in such tragic incidents.
They hit out at the police for challaning helmetless riders but alleged that the men in uniform were letting those driving under the influence of alcohol off the leash.
The residents have called upon the authorities to end this narco tourism and clamp down heavily on those drinking and driving recklessly and also demanded inquiry against police officials who turn a nelson’s eye to the illegalities in the coastal belt before the village turns into a banana republic.