The Hindu : National : More foreigners dying of drug abuse in Goa?

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Friday, Mar 07, 2008
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More foreigners dying of drug abuse in Goa?

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: The official statistics of the Foreigners Branch of the Goa police have a tale to tell: a significantly high ratio of cases of deaths of foreigners in recent times in this coastal tourist State — almost 50 per cent — await the reports of the chemical analysis of the viscera to divulge the exact cause of death.

As per the police statistics, for the current year, the number of cases sent for chemical analysis of viscera is six out of 12 while for the previous year it was 25 out of 59. Added to this is the number of deaths by drowning and in road accidents: four in 2008 and 12 in the previous year. While police decline to go on record, they privately admit that the invisible hand of drug abuse cannot be ruled out in such cases.

The issue of deaths of foreigners has come into debate following the recent controversy over the death of a British girl. The State police has asked for a second autopsy report following her mother’s plea to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to re-investigate the case, reported as drowning by the police earlier, based on the first autopsy report.

According to State police records, 17 deaths of foreigners have been registered with the police so far (this includes 5 NRIs who died in a road accident) in the first two months of 2008 as against 59 for 2007 and 55 during 2006.

Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar on Thursday downplayed the issue pointing to the fact that most of the deaths were due to natural causes and accidents. But he expressed his inability to comment when asked if the high number of cases referred for chemical analysis could mean a high ratio of cases related to overdose of drugs and narcotics and that many of the accidental deaths and drowning could also be attributed to rampant drug abuse in the coastal belt. He would prefer the chemical analysis report to speak for itself.

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