PANAJI: In the past 72 hours, the state has witnessed a number of mysterious deaths with bodies being recovered from different parts and this has sent shock waves across the state ahead of the peak tourist season.

The type of injuries on the bodies of three out of five females recovered show a similarity and a pattern suggesting that they may have been victims of the same criminal. The post mortem report in two cases has revealed that a different mode was used to murder them.
In three cases of female bodies where burn injuries were found above the chest and below the abdomen it may have sent signals of rape but the autopsy report denies it.
The autopsy report certified by Dr Silvano Sapeco and Dr Pranab Kumar on Wednesday revealed that the body found at Merces, which has been identified as that of Concessao D’Souza (61) from Amaral wado Verna and who was a fish vendor at Majorda market, was smothered to death and then in an attempt to destroy the evidence, it was burnt. The deceased was reported missing from Verna since Sunday.
The autopsy in case of the minor girl from Caranzalem, whose body was found burnt at Verna, revealed that the cause of death was due to strangulation. While the third body which was recovered from near a government primary school at Socorro is suspected to be a case of murder as some heavy object or a stone seemed to be used to smash the deceased’s head. The post mortem report in this case is awaited. The body found by Mapusa police at Khorjuem is yet to be identified.
The Superintendent of Police, Special Branch, Mr Atmaram Deshpande said the police are on the right track and hopeful of obtaining clues to nail the accused and added there is no evidence of any sexual assault on both the bodies on which postmortem has been conducted.
Regarding the four bodies recovered from Rua de Ourem creek he said, “It could be a suicide case and the police are trying hard to find evidence.” He added that a couple that was found floating in river at Chopdem a couple of days ago could also be a suicide case. It is still quite early to say anything at this stage, he said and added that the police are looking at every angle. He cautioned people, particularly tourists not to move freely during odd hours.