by ARES
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa
Panaji, Mar 10: The family members of 15 year old British girl who was found dead on Goa's beach today said that they have no faith in state police investigations and demanded that the case be inquired by central agencies like CBI.
Scarlette Eden Keeling, 15, UK national, on her holiday with the family in Goa, was found dead on state's popular Anjuna beach on February 18. The family members had suspected foul play in her death which was partially confirmed in the second autopsy conducted on her dead body by the authorities.
"Scarlette's mother has no faith in police investigations. The state police has just picked up a bar man and made him to confess that he had sexual act with her," family's counsel Vikram Varma stated this morning.
Goa police swung into action only after medicos in the second autopsy recommended that the police should investigate the death as `homicidal (murder). Intensifying their investigations, the police had detained three persons and later arrested one Samsung D'Souza, 29, a local bar man, who was seen in compromising position with Scarlette by an eyewitness couple of hours before her death.
State police inspector general of police Kishan Kumar had said that the police had registered case of murder against D'Souza as the girl was minor. "Irrespective of whether the sexual act was in consent or not in consent, the rape case stands as Indian law treats sexual intercourse with minor as a rape," Kumar said.
Scarlette's mother, Fiona MacKeown, who has been fighting for justice to her daughter, however, expressed unhappiness over the way in which investigation is conducted.
"We don't trust the police investigations. Either someone from centre has to come down to investigate or give the case to CBI," Varma representing Fiona said.
The lawyer, citing that right from day one, police have been trying to hush up the case, alleged that police were certainly influenced by the money. "Such men should not conduct inquiry. CBI inquiry is must in this case," the Supreme Court advocate said.
Varma said that right from the day when body was found till three days back, the police have been attempting to cover up the case as accidental death. "We had given in writing to everyone in the state police force right from police sub inspector to director general police (DGP) but no one paid attention. Now how can we trust them?," questioned Varma.
Meanwhile, police today said that they are right on track in investigating the case and they will be able to execute more arrests after the first one. "We are working on the case and subsequently will arrest few more," north goa superintendent of police Bosco George said.
State Tourism Dept Fears Losing Business
The state tourism department today feared losing the business following massive bad media publicity earned by the state following death of a British girl.
"I am getting so many calls from places like Germany, UK and other places. They are apprehensive about coming to Goa following such cases," state tourism minister Fransisco Pacheco told a press conference this afternoon.
A Briton Scarlett Eden Keeling, 15 was found dead on goa's popular Anjuna beach on February 18. The state police initially had passed on this case as a death due to drowning but later began investigating it as a murder following the second autopsy on her body.
Scarlett's family had alleged foul play in her death and her mother Fiona Mackowen, 43, has been fighting for what she calls `justice to Scarlett.'
"This case has sent wrong signal internationally. We will have to protect our image as a safe tourist destination through various travel marts, which we represent," the tourism minister said.
Pacheco, a NCP legislator, said that so far there are no cancellations but the impact on the tourism industry would be visible only after few days.
"It's only due to negligence of few police officers that the case has been blown out of proportion," he alleged.
Conceding that drug cartels are increasing their presence in the state, the minister said that the coastal belts of Anjuna, Baga, Vagator, Palolem, Calangute and others have become heaven for these paddlers.
"I had brought this to the notice of home ministry recently," he said.
The tourism minister said that the laxity by home department is forcing the tourism department to face criticism.
"Just 62 police personnel attached to tourist police force manage safety on 105-km long beach stretch. This needs to be changed. We need more policing so that the tourists feel safe on these coasts," Pacheco said.
The state minister also said that if family does not have faith in state police, the government should hand over the investigations to central bureau of investigations as demanded by the family.