Goa Rape: Top cop defends police investigation

Panaji: A top Goa police officer defended the officials probing the death of 15-year-old British girl and blamed the medicos who had performed the first autopsy for "laxity" in the post-mortem report.

"How the doctor who conducted first post-mortem on the body did not notice 20-odd bruises?," questioned Goa's Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar.

However, the Goa police on Sunday detained three of the seven youths who were seen with the victim little before her death.

Police sources stated that they have pinned down their investigations on a group of seven youths, who usually loiter in the shacks of Anjuna beach, where the girl's body was found on February 18.

"Detention of three is made while we are on look out for four others," a police official stated.

Scarlette Eden Keeling, a UK National, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Goa's popular Anjuna beach on February 18.

The investigations into her death had kicked off a row after police said it was case of drowning which attracted criticism from media and Scarlette's family. The second autopsy was conducted on her body after her family insisted. It further confirmed the possibilities of murder. Then police registered the death as a case of murder.

"We have always investigated this case based on the first autopsy report which says that the death was due to drowning," Kumar said shielding the police sub inspector Nerlon Albuquerque who has been in the line of fire in the case.

Scarlette's family lodged a complaint last night, alleging that they were misled by police in this case.

"There were bruises but doctors never certified that the death is homicidal. It is now in the second autopsy that the doctors have recommended that the case be investigated as homicidal," Kumar said replying to a question.

However, her family members pointing out to the bruises on her body had contended that it was a case of rape and murder, not an accidental death due to drowning as being established by police initially.

Police sources confirmed that a gang of seven boys is suspected behind the incident as they were seen with her few hours before her death.

The investigations have revealed that Scarlette was partying with these boys at a local shack till 0400 hrs on the fateful day.