The exposed wires at the Colva Children’s park which claimed the life of a tourist in July 2022.
Exactly around this part of the year two years ago, the tourist village of Colva had witnessed an uproar after a middle-age tourist from Rajasthan died at the Children’s park due to electrocution. Locals had taken up cudgels for the deceased tourist, demanding thorough investigations into the death, including negligence, if any, by the contractor awarded the work of Colva beach beautification.
Two years down the line, questions still remains unanswered. One, whether the police had charge sheeted the case before the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, or whether the police had moved the court for closure of the case.
Questions have been raised whether the police had only booked the contractor for negligence or whether the Colva cops were also investigating into the role of the Tourism officials in the death due to electrocution of the Rajasthani tourist, and, whether the government had paid any compensation to the relatives of the deceased tourist.
Much water seemed to have flown down the river Sal in the last two years, with the Colva police station headed by a couple of police officers since July 14, 2022. Some of these officers may be even unaware about the electrocution incident that had claimed the life of the tourist from Rajasthan.
The incident had occurred on July 14, 2022 when the tourist was returning from the beach to his hotel when he came in contact with an exposed electric wire, laid by the contactor for illumination of the Children’s park.
As usual, the Colva police was prompt in registering a case of unnatural death, triggering protests and suspicions by local residents, who demanded proper investigations into the incident, more so when the tourist had come in contact with exposed electric wires installed around the Children’s park for the illumination.
What, however, had shed light on the death due to electrocution of the tourist was the inspection report compiled by the Power Officials, which categorically stated that the damage to the insulation sleeve of the phase wire had caused leakage of current to pass through the earthing wire.
Sadly, though the power department has been prompt in submitting the inspection, it had taken the Colva police three months to register a FIR against the contractor engaged by the Tourism department for negligence under section 204-A of the IPC.
Two years down the line, the same question remains unanswered -- has the Colva police charge sheeted the case in the Court or whether the police has moved for closure of the case.
Colva-based social activist Judith Almeida, who had demanded action against the Tourism department officials in the case, said the police higher-ups should come clear on the status of the case in the electrocution incident.
"We have no idea whether the case is charge sheeted or closed. Police officers may have come and gone, but the FIRs registered at the police stations need to be taken to the logical conclusion. We hope the police higher ups would shed light on the fate of the electrocution incident and whether justice has been meted out in the case,” she added.
