Why unnatural is natural for cops?
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Of the 10 murders that Mahanand Naik has confessed to, five were registered as cases of unnatural death (UD) by the police and the cases were kept “open ended” for years.
Even as senior officials have called for the case papers to investigate into the circumstances under which the cases were registered as UDs, women activists say that dismissing a case as UD is common practice with the police. Sources say that over 70 cases are registered as UDs annually.
Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad said, “This has been our major grievance with the police. Whenever there is a woman’s death and it’s a difficult case, rather than investigate, the police register it as UD. In the absence of public pressure, the police don’t investigate seriously, even when there is enough evidence pointing towards murder.”
Auda Veigas of Bailancho Ekvott, who has been a panch witness for the police in several cases, agreed and said, “Whenever an unknown young woman’s body is found, the police immediately conclude that it may be a ‘outsider’s body’. Instead of investigating it as a case of murder, they dismiss it as an unnatural death and terminate investigations.”
Explaining the reasons behind the police tendency to register potential murders as UDs, former SP Alex Rasquinha said it is to avoid extensive paper work and to project a lower crime rate. “Once a case is registered as a murder, there are several formalities. Besides, a UD doesn’t reflect on the crime graph. The police don’t want to show an increase in murders with a low detection rate as it signifies a lack of supervision,” he said.
He added that the most common excuse the police adopt in keeping a case as UD is that the viscera report is awaited.
26 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Scarlett's organs sent to UK coroner, says mother
Scarlett's organs sent to UK coroner, says mother
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: Fiona MacKeown, mother of the slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling, said that the Indian authorities have finally released the remaining organs of her daughter and they have been sent to the coroner in the UK. However, Scarlett will not be buried till the investigations in India are over, she added.
Speaking to TOI from her home in Devon, Fiona said, "I haven't received the organs yet, but everything is proceeding in the right direction. The CBI has released the organs. The organs won't come to me but go directly to the UK coroner".
Scarlett was found dead at the Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008. First, the police dismissed it as a case of unnatural death, but later they arrested two people for drugging and raping Scarlett before leaving her to die on the beach, but MacKeown alleged cover-up.
"There is half a uterus and a piece of liver and kidney as far as I know. The UK coroner is very keen to do tests on the uterus and the kidney. I expect the uterus will reveal Scarlett's sexual activities before she died and the kidney should reveal details of drink and drugs that were consumed before she died although tests on hair have already been done to expose this," she said.
Incidentally, MacKeown, while taking Scarlett's body to UK, had said that she would conduct tests in UK. But when the UK coroner revealed that several of her body parts were missing, MacKeown alleged that she was kept in the dark about the missing organs by the forensic doctors and police.
"I had expected them to take bits, samples, but I brought her back and there was a lot missing. Her spleen and her uterus. All that had gone. They told me it was normal procedure, but I tried to tie them down to find out what the exact procedure was, but there isn't one. It seems that they do what they want", she had said.
Though now happy that she has finally got her daughter's organs, she admitted that it would be sometime before she would be able to bury her daughter. "I don't think the coroner will let me bury her until the investigations are over in India. I don't even know when her body will be released to me," she added.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) has approached the high court of Bombay at Goa for a letter of request to interrogate two British citizens in connection with the murder of 15-year-old Scarlett. In a petition filed in the court, the investigating agency has said that a letter rogatory, or a formal request, from the court is essential to question the victim's mother Mackeown and Charles Carter, who had allegedly seen Scarlett sometime before she was found dead on Anjuna beach. A letter rogatory is a formal communication sent by a court to a foreign court seeking the latter's assistance in recording the statements of witnesses residing there.
25 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: Fiona MacKeown, mother of the slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling, said that the Indian authorities have finally released the remaining organs of her daughter and they have been sent to the coroner in the UK. However, Scarlett will not be buried till the investigations in India are over, she added.
Speaking to TOI from her home in Devon, Fiona said, "I haven't received the organs yet, but everything is proceeding in the right direction. The CBI has released the organs. The organs won't come to me but go directly to the UK coroner".
Scarlett was found dead at the Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008. First, the police dismissed it as a case of unnatural death, but later they arrested two people for drugging and raping Scarlett before leaving her to die on the beach, but MacKeown alleged cover-up.
"There is half a uterus and a piece of liver and kidney as far as I know. The UK coroner is very keen to do tests on the uterus and the kidney. I expect the uterus will reveal Scarlett's sexual activities before she died and the kidney should reveal details of drink and drugs that were consumed before she died although tests on hair have already been done to expose this," she said.
Incidentally, MacKeown, while taking Scarlett's body to UK, had said that she would conduct tests in UK. But when the UK coroner revealed that several of her body parts were missing, MacKeown alleged that she was kept in the dark about the missing organs by the forensic doctors and police.
"I had expected them to take bits, samples, but I brought her back and there was a lot missing. Her spleen and her uterus. All that had gone. They told me it was normal procedure, but I tried to tie them down to find out what the exact procedure was, but there isn't one. It seems that they do what they want", she had said.
Though now happy that she has finally got her daughter's organs, she admitted that it would be sometime before she would be able to bury her daughter. "I don't think the coroner will let me bury her until the investigations are over in India. I don't even know when her body will be released to me," she added.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) has approached the high court of Bombay at Goa for a letter of request to interrogate two British citizens in connection with the murder of 15-year-old Scarlett. In a petition filed in the court, the investigating agency has said that a letter rogatory, or a formal request, from the court is essential to question the victim's mother Mackeown and Charles Carter, who had allegedly seen Scarlett sometime before she was found dead on Anjuna beach. A letter rogatory is a formal communication sent by a court to a foreign court seeking the latter's assistance in recording the statements of witnesses residing there.
25 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Mahanand raped me for 4 years, says victim
Mahanand raped me for 4 years, says victim
Preetu Nair & Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN
PANAJI: A rape survivor revealed that dupatta killer Mahanand Naik raped her everyday for four years and then lured her with gold, clothes and promises of marriage. When she objected, he threatened her, she alleged.
"For four years, he wouldn't allow me to talk to anyone. If I talked to a man, he would threaten me. Two years ago I got a marriage proposal from Ponda. Mahanand went to the boy and told him that I am his girl', thereby destroying my marriage prospects," revealed Reema Naik, 23.
She says that there were times when she wanted to attack him but was too afraid to do anything. "He threatened me with dire consequences and I believed him for four years. Every time he raped me, he warned that if I tried to break off or go to the police, then he will defame me with my semi-nude photos. He used to get frequent calls from girls on his mobile, but he would avoid speaking to them in my presence. I dared not question him, as my mind and heart were filled with fear," said Reema.
However, in April, the victim pulled the plug on Mahanand when she spilled the beans to the Ponda police. The police immediately arrested Mahanand for raping the 23-year-old. Later, while in custody, he confessed to killing 10 women after promising to marry them.
Mahanand now faces charges in connection with the alleged murder of 10 women and rape of the 23-year-old. The police also recovered the victim's photo as well as several mobile phones buried in a room at Mahanand's house in Shiroda, about 3 km away from her home.
Though she has forgotten how many times Mahanand raped her, she says that she still remembers that she was first raped on June 21, 2005 in Mahanand's house. She can still remember her helpless scream for help, which was reduced to a whisper in the coming years, she said.
Interestingly, Mahanand never beat her or tried to kill her. On the contrary, he lured her with promises of marriage, jewellery and clothes. "He gifted me clothes, gold jewellery and also promised to marry me. I had no option but to believe him as I had no one to turn to for help," she said.
She claims that she struggled to ignore her doubts. She kept trying to put the pieces together. "When I asked him how he, an unemployed person, got the money to purchase gifts for me, he dodged my questions, manipulated me and I kept on suppressing my growing suspicions out of fear and uncertainty," she said.
"I still picture him coming at odd times to my home, watching me, ready to abuse me. His presence shattered our lives and led to frequent fights with my younger sister," she added. For Reema, her struggle for justice has just started.
(Name of victim changed)
23 May 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair & Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN
PANAJI: A rape survivor revealed that dupatta killer Mahanand Naik raped her everyday for four years and then lured her with gold, clothes and promises of marriage. When she objected, he threatened her, she alleged.
"For four years, he wouldn't allow me to talk to anyone. If I talked to a man, he would threaten me. Two years ago I got a marriage proposal from Ponda. Mahanand went to the boy and told him that I am his girl', thereby destroying my marriage prospects," revealed Reema Naik, 23.
She says that there were times when she wanted to attack him but was too afraid to do anything. "He threatened me with dire consequences and I believed him for four years. Every time he raped me, he warned that if I tried to break off or go to the police, then he will defame me with my semi-nude photos. He used to get frequent calls from girls on his mobile, but he would avoid speaking to them in my presence. I dared not question him, as my mind and heart were filled with fear," said Reema.
However, in April, the victim pulled the plug on Mahanand when she spilled the beans to the Ponda police. The police immediately arrested Mahanand for raping the 23-year-old. Later, while in custody, he confessed to killing 10 women after promising to marry them.
Mahanand now faces charges in connection with the alleged murder of 10 women and rape of the 23-year-old. The police also recovered the victim's photo as well as several mobile phones buried in a room at Mahanand's house in Shiroda, about 3 km away from her home.
Though she has forgotten how many times Mahanand raped her, she says that she still remembers that she was first raped on June 21, 2005 in Mahanand's house. She can still remember her helpless scream for help, which was reduced to a whisper in the coming years, she said.
Interestingly, Mahanand never beat her or tried to kill her. On the contrary, he lured her with promises of marriage, jewellery and clothes. "He gifted me clothes, gold jewellery and also promised to marry me. I had no option but to believe him as I had no one to turn to for help," she said.
She claims that she struggled to ignore her doubts. She kept trying to put the pieces together. "When I asked him how he, an unemployed person, got the money to purchase gifts for me, he dodged my questions, manipulated me and I kept on suppressing my growing suspicions out of fear and uncertainty," she said.
"I still picture him coming at odd times to my home, watching me, ready to abuse me. His presence shattered our lives and led to frequent fights with my younger sister," she added. For Reema, her struggle for justice has just started.
(Name of victim changed)
23 May 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
'Deepali spoke to bro on May 19'
'Deepali spoke to bro on May 19'
Preetu Nair & Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN
PANAJI: The alleged kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Deepali Jotkar of Davorlim took an interesting turn on Friday with her parents informing the Maina Curtorim police that their son was recently in touch with Deepali.
Speaking to TOI, Deepali's mother Reshma said that Bhupendra informed them on Friday, that he received a call from Deepali on Tuesday (May 19) from a cellphone in Pune.
"My son told us that my Deepali had called him on his mobile and she was crying bitterly. She told him that she is in Pune and is not allowed to speak to anyone. This is the first call she made to us after she went missing in 2006," Reshma said, recalling that previous efforts by the family and police to contact Deepali on her cellphone had proved futile.
It may be recalled that the Jotkars on May 11, filed a case with the Maina Curtorim police outpost, alleging that Deepali was a possible victim of alleged murderer Mahanand Naik.
Drawing parallels between Mahanand's 10 victims and Deepali, the parents had told the police that on November 23, 2006, the day she disappeared, Deepali too was carrying cash and wearing jewellery. Moreover, she left home without informing her parents and left behind a note that said: "I am going to Mumbai with my boyfriend and we will get married. You don't search for me. Don't doubt or blame anyone". Neighbours too revealed that they had seen the alleged dupatta killer, who was known to the Jotkars, dropping Deepali close to her home almost everyday.
Adding fuel was the statement of Reema Naik (name changed), an alleged rape victim of Mahanand's, who told TOI that "Mahanand's wife suspected her husband was having an extra marital affair with Deepali".
"Once in 2006, Deepali even called Mahanand on his mobile. When I picked up the phone, she introduced herself and asked for Mahanand, who immediately came and cut the line. I have also seen her photograph at Mahanand's house," Reema had told TOI.
Police officials told TOI that the new turn of eventsthe mobile call from Punewould be inquired into.
Meanwhile, the Jotkars have another tale of woe. In 2005, younger daughter Pallavi, then 17, went missing.
"I worked in the Gulf as a housemaid for 14 years. I worked hard, sometimes under unhealthy conditions, just to ensure a better future for my daughters. But when I returned to Goa in 2005, Pallavi disappeared. A year later, so did Deepali. When efforts to trace them failed, we thought of lodging missing persons complaints, but were scared of the public backlash. We thought the girls were happy in their marital homes," Reshma told TOI.
However, when Mahanand's exploits came to light, things changed. "Both Deepali and Pallavi were close to Mahanand who had come to our house with them. They introduced him as their friend and we had given him the contract work to repair our house on our daughters' recommendations," recalled the mother.
With Mahanand allegedly confessing to the murders of 10 women, the senior Jotkars, who till recently believed their younger daughter was in Kolhapur with her husband, now feel that Pallavi too might have been killed by Mahanand.
"All this while we were ashamed that our daughters had eloped. We were scared to face people. But not anymore. We will lodge another complaint with the police against Mahanand, this time for kidnapping Pallavi," father Dattaram told TOI.
The parents had consulted astrologers. "An astrologer recently told me that my daughter is alive," said Reshma, adding, "I just want to see both my daughters."
23 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair & Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN
PANAJI: The alleged kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Deepali Jotkar of Davorlim took an interesting turn on Friday with her parents informing the Maina Curtorim police that their son was recently in touch with Deepali.
Speaking to TOI, Deepali's mother Reshma said that Bhupendra informed them on Friday, that he received a call from Deepali on Tuesday (May 19) from a cellphone in Pune.
"My son told us that my Deepali had called him on his mobile and she was crying bitterly. She told him that she is in Pune and is not allowed to speak to anyone. This is the first call she made to us after she went missing in 2006," Reshma said, recalling that previous efforts by the family and police to contact Deepali on her cellphone had proved futile.
It may be recalled that the Jotkars on May 11, filed a case with the Maina Curtorim police outpost, alleging that Deepali was a possible victim of alleged murderer Mahanand Naik.
Drawing parallels between Mahanand's 10 victims and Deepali, the parents had told the police that on November 23, 2006, the day she disappeared, Deepali too was carrying cash and wearing jewellery. Moreover, she left home without informing her parents and left behind a note that said: "I am going to Mumbai with my boyfriend and we will get married. You don't search for me. Don't doubt or blame anyone". Neighbours too revealed that they had seen the alleged dupatta killer, who was known to the Jotkars, dropping Deepali close to her home almost everyday.
Adding fuel was the statement of Reema Naik (name changed), an alleged rape victim of Mahanand's, who told TOI that "Mahanand's wife suspected her husband was having an extra marital affair with Deepali".
"Once in 2006, Deepali even called Mahanand on his mobile. When I picked up the phone, she introduced herself and asked for Mahanand, who immediately came and cut the line. I have also seen her photograph at Mahanand's house," Reema had told TOI.
Police officials told TOI that the new turn of eventsthe mobile call from Punewould be inquired into.
Meanwhile, the Jotkars have another tale of woe. In 2005, younger daughter Pallavi, then 17, went missing.
"I worked in the Gulf as a housemaid for 14 years. I worked hard, sometimes under unhealthy conditions, just to ensure a better future for my daughters. But when I returned to Goa in 2005, Pallavi disappeared. A year later, so did Deepali. When efforts to trace them failed, we thought of lodging missing persons complaints, but were scared of the public backlash. We thought the girls were happy in their marital homes," Reshma told TOI.
However, when Mahanand's exploits came to light, things changed. "Both Deepali and Pallavi were close to Mahanand who had come to our house with them. They introduced him as their friend and we had given him the contract work to repair our house on our daughters' recommendations," recalled the mother.
With Mahanand allegedly confessing to the murders of 10 women, the senior Jotkars, who till recently believed their younger daughter was in Kolhapur with her husband, now feel that Pallavi too might have been killed by Mahanand.
"All this while we were ashamed that our daughters had eloped. We were scared to face people. But not anymore. We will lodge another complaint with the police against Mahanand, this time for kidnapping Pallavi," father Dattaram told TOI.
The parents had consulted astrologers. "An astrologer recently told me that my daughter is alive," said Reshma, adding, "I just want to see both my daughters."
23 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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