Following the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa directing the sealing of 175 structures in Anjuna, the village is finding itself bottled up by the law with outstation police picking up six locals on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 evening for questioning.
The six, within the age group of 21 to 25 years, were picked up from Sonarkadi, Muno in Assagao, Anjuna and Vagator. “After questioning the boys, we are on the lookout for more,” an officer involved in the investigation disclosed on condition of anonymity.
“The outstation police,” according to local sources, “moved in Maruti Swift vehicles and were there till late last (Tuesday) night seen combing areas of Chapora. We were quite surprised by the action of the police,” stated an acquaintance of one of the boys who was picked up.
“The boys were picked up in relation to the murder that took place at Dream Beach on December 29. One of the boys picked up is a gauncar of Anjuna Comunidade,” disclosed another source on condition of anonymity.
It may be recalled that Sanjay Santosh, a 19-year-old from Kerala, was found dead on January 4, 2024 in Goa after which police registered a case of unnatural death and initiated inquest proceedings.
“Mystery surrounds the death of a teenager from Valkom whose body was found on a beach in Goa. The post mortem report has revealed multiple injuries, which suggest that Sanjay, son of Santhosh, from Kulasekaramangalam, was brutally assaulted,” states an Express news service report from Kerala.
The viscera of the victim, according to Goa Police, was sent for examination to ascertain whether the water found in the victim’s body was from Vagator beach or Morjim and the report is still awaited.
Police from Kerala, according to media reports in Kerala, had earlier visited Dream Beach, Vagator, where the victim was last seen dancing on stage on a video that went viral.
Social media was rife with comments that the lad was brutally hit by bouncers of a party allegedly organised on the beach by a person whose name appeared as DJ in the many flyers circulated.
“He (Santosh) danced on speakers doing drugs which he got from the same party. The bouncers killed him. All these things are live in news of Kerala,” disclosed a source in writing, whilst sending along TV clips.
The parties at Dream Beach continued unabated for more than a month after the death – despite concerns raised by outstation police.
“I have talked to his own brother and he told me Goa Police was refusing to file FIR,” stated a source in Kerala. “Now Kerala police is investigating,” he assured.
Meanwhile residents of Anjuna are not happy with what is happening in the village.
“Please don’t ask me anything because it hurts me to hear such noise. This was such a lovely village when hippies were around. We lived so happily then. We kept them happy and they kept us happy,” says 70-plus Vasanti as the Sun is about to set.
With structures being sealed and now police from outside apprehending locals, the night seems scary for the locals of Anjuna.
