A 22-year-old college student was found dead with a gunshot wound at his Mapusa residence late Thursday night, hours after he was booked and questioned for dumping garbage in public.
The youth had spent several hours at the police station after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Salim Shaikh said the police received information about the student’s death at about 1:30am–2am on Friday. “We have registered a case of unnatural death and are probing the matter,” he said.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said he has called for a detailed investigation into the matter.
The third-year college student had earlier been filmed allegedly dumping garbage in the open.
The video clip, which was released on social media, went viral. A first information report (FIR) was registered against him under the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage Control Act, 1996, which prescribes a maximum fine of ₹1,000 and a one-month jail for dumping plastic waste in the open.
“We had received a complaint that he was illegally dumping garbage and that the video had gone viral on social media. We examined it and registered an offence under the Non-biodegradable Act, 1996. The punishment that is meted out is mostly that of a fine, although imprisonment is also one of the options at the discretion of the court,” Shaikh added.
{{/usCountry}}“We had received a complaint that he was illegally dumping garbage and that the video had gone viral on social media. We examined it and registered an offence under the Non-biodegradable Act, 1996. The punishment that is meted out is mostly that of a fine, although imprisonment is also one of the options at the discretion of the court,” Shaikh added.
{{/usCountry}}The student’s family linked his death to the local police summoning him and keeping him waiting for half a day. He was also warned that he couldn’t leave the state until the investigation in the case was complete, his family alleged.
Shaikh defended the police action, suggesting that he had to wait because the cops were busy.
“We called him to the police station, interviewed him, issued a notice to him and sent him home. At that time, there were many people at the police station. Several matters were ongoing, so it took us some time to deal with him,” he added.
If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.
Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290