A day after his release, Naigaon dad ‘disappears’

Francis Gomes (60), who was arrested for allegedly confining his wife and daughters for five years in their Naigaon flat, has “disappeared” following his release from jail on Saturday.

Francis Gomes (60), who was arrested for allegedly confining his wife and daughters for five years in their Naigaon flat, has “disappeared” following his release from jail on Saturday.

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Gomes was arrested on October 1 for allegedly confining his wife Theresa and two daughters in a flat at Naigaon.

Inspector Ashok Pawar said Gomes had come to the police station on Sunday to collect his belongings. “Gomes picked up the house keys, leave and licence agreement of the flat and his mobile phone,” Pawar said.

When HT visited Gomes’ flat, the house was locked and his neighbours were clueless about his whereabouts. “I have not seen Gomes since he was picked up by the police,” said Jairaj Verghese, Gomes’ neighbour.

R. Gopalakrishnan, chief of Anand Rehabilitation Centre, the non-governmental organisation that rescued Gomes’ wife and two daughters, said he visited Gomes’ flat with ration and clothes. “I waited for several hours, but he was not in the flat.” Grace (54), who had claimed to be a distant relative of Gomes and had visited him in the prison, also came to his flat on Sunday. “I have no clue where he is,” she said.

“I am planning to give him a month’s notice to evict the flat. I don’t want any more tenants in my flat,” said Daniel Pereirra, the flat’s owner.