The Hindu : National : Police await reports of chemical analysis on death of foreign tourists in Goa

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Police await reports of chemical analysis on death of foreign tourists in Goa

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: Records available at the Foreigners Branch of the Goa police have a tale to tell: a significantly high number 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 deaths.

Figures so far for the current year reveal that 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. Four foreigners died by drowning and in road accidents in 2008 compared to 12 in the previous year. Police privately admit that drug abuse cannot be ruled out in such cases.

The issue of deaths of foreigners came to the fore following a controversy over the death of a British girl. Police asked for a second autopsy report following her mother’s plea to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to re-investigate the case. Police had closed the case citing drowning as the cause, based on the first autopsy report.

The deaths of 17 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 out that most deaths were due to natural causes and accidents. He was asked if the high number of cases referred for chemical analysis could mean the cases could be due to overdose of drugs and narcotics.

He said he would wait for the chemical analysis reports which could also throw light on whether many of the accidental deaths and drowning could also be attributed to drug abuse.

More number of deaths of British nationals could be attributed to the fact that Goa gets maximum tourists from Britain. Of the 17 deaths as per police records this year, six are British while it was 32 and 28, respectively, for the years 2007 and 2006.

When asked about the growing number of recent cases of foreigners’ deaths by overdose of drugs and narcotics, Home Minister Ravi Naik told The Hindu “the menace of drug in the State’s coastal area is being tackled with iron-hand in recent times”.

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