Goa forest dept seeks police probe into Home Guard jawan's death in 'bison attack'

The Goa Forest Department has sought a police probe into the suspicious death of a Home Guard jawan, initially believed to have been killed in a bison attack, after officials found inconsistencies in injury patterns. Talking to reporters, state Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said that ''nothing can be ruled out'' as a department's inquiry flagged several discrepancies. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, in a letter to the South Goa Superintendent of Police, stated that there were several doubts regarding the death of Dinesh Gaude (48), a Home Guard jawan from Bethoda village. Gaude was found dead in a forest patch in Ponda on May 7, in what was initially believed to be a bison attack. However, an examination of the scene and post-mortem findings revealed several inconsistencies, the letter stated. The department pointed out that there were no hoof marks, dung, hair or other signs indicating the movement of a gaur (Indian bison) at the spot, and noted that the injury pattern mentioned in the post-mortem report did not match the nature of injuries usually caused in bison attacks. According to forest officials, the blunt-surface injury and absence of multiple trauma marks cast doubt on the theory of a bison attack. The department also noted contradictory statements by eyewitnesses. Officials also raised suspicion over the victim's movement to the isolated spot, noting that there was no apparent reason for him to use the forested route when he had access to the highway. The department, in the letter, urged police to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident.

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