Pernem : A 59-year-old woman was mowed down by a young tourist from Delhi on Friday night while she was standing on the road near her house at Junaswada in Mandrem.
The tourist from Delhi was arrested for driving rashly and knocking down the woman Maria Fernandes after arguments over a pet dog led to a physical fight between the local family and the visitors.
The accused Deepan Rajeev Batra (23), of New Delhi but residing at a guesthouse at Sawantwada in Mandrem, drove his car in a rash and negligent manner, mowing down the woman, the Mandrem police said. Joseph Fernandes, the woman’s son, said Deepan has a Rottweiler pet dog, which the tourist was getting with him whenever he came to the Mandrem beach. The Delhi man was using the access road that passes through their house and always parked the vehicle there, the police said referring to a complaint filed by the son.
The Fernandes family also owns two dogs of local breed, which are tied outside the house. So whenever Deepan was visiting the area with his dog, the animals were barking and trying to attack each other, creating nuisance in the locality.
Disturbed by this, Maria and her son had confronted the tourist twice asking him not to get his pet dog in the vicinity. However, Deepan did not bother to heed the request and continued bringing the Rottweiler.
On Friday, Deepan and his parents travelled to Junaswada in their car, along with their dog, using the same access road to get to the beach around 9.30 pm and parked the car near the house.
Joseph had a word with Deepan over the same issue. However, the accused and his parents continued walking to the beach.
Later while they were walking back towards their car between 10.30 pm and 11 pm, Joseph once again asked the accused to stop getting his dog. This led to arguments and then to a physical fight between Deepan’s mother and Maria.
SDPO, Pernem, Ashish Shirodkar said that Maria, who used to sell tender coconuts, brandished the koita she used to cut coconuts. The terrified Batras immediately rushed to their vehicle. Thereafter Deepan rashly drove his Delhi-registered car and deliberately knocked down Maria on the road, the police said.
The impact of the dash was such that Maria was dragged for almost 10 metres, resulting in her death on the spot.
Another person, who had been at the site, moved away quickly but sustained some injuries.
The woman was moved to the community health centre at Tuem, where she was declared dead.
The accused went to the Mandrem police station and surrendered.
The police registered an offence of rash and negligent driving and murder against Deepan and placed him under arrest.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Goa pradesh Congress committee visited the Mandrem police station, demanding action against the accused in the ‘murder’.
They criticised the Sawant government for its failure to maintain law and order.
The Congress leaders highlighted the rising crime rates involving tourists, with recent incidents including a youth being killed at Arambol beach and the woman killed over a pet-related dispute.
They called for strict action, stressing the need to send a message that such crimes are unacceptable.
The leaders expressed frustration over the increasing criminal activity and the lack of law enforcement, urging the government to address the issue to restore Goa’s reputation as a peaceful state.
