Goa Police destroyed evidence in Scarlett case: NCW

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Coming down heavily on the Goa police for ''destroying evidence'' and ''hushing up'' the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case, the NCW today observed that the force was working at the behest of some influential people.

The Commission observed that the case was an ''instance of deteriorating the law and order'' situation in Goa.

''The shoddy investigation in itself is an indication about what is going on... Goa Police is working under the influence of some people. Evidence has been completely destroyed in the case. Police was misleading the public and the authorities,'' Commission Member Nirmala Venkatesh told a press conference after concluding a fact-finding tour of Goa.

''The crime scene was not cordoned off... Louis shack, where the crime took place, is completely destroyed and only two arrests have been made in the case. The police system in Goa has completely failed,'' she added.

She said the Goa IGP had admitted to lapses in the case.

''The investigation should have been carried out effectively to negate possible contradictions,'' she said.

''When the victim's mother went to the crime scene to identify the body it had not even been covered.... A woman police official was not present on the spot. Scarlett's body was fully brusied and police tried to pass it off as a case of drowning,'' she pointed out.

Earlier today, the Goa government said it is seeking a CBI probe into the murder of the 15-year-old, who was found dead on Goa's Anjuna Beach on February 18.

Victim mother Fiona Mackeown had been demanding a CBI probe, saying she had no faith in the investigation conducted by police.

Ms Venkatesh, who was leading the team to Goa on March 29-30, did not rule out the involvement of the drug cartel in the case.

The team also met Ms Mackeown, a day before she returned to Britain with Scarlett's body.

''The victim's mother told us she was scared and felt insecure.

She conveyed to us her total distrust in the Goa police,'' the Commission Member said.

While recommending measures to check crime against women tourists in Goa, the Commission said the Government should open case of other teenagers killed in similar circumstances.

''About 25 to 35 murder cases of teenagers have not been investigated in Goa and they must be probed,'' she said.

NCW also suggested sensitisation of police personnel in Goa and awareness campaigns at airports, particularly for women tourist.

Police have arrested two locals, Barman Samson D'Souza and drug dealer Placido Carvalho, for allegedly drugging and raping Scarlett and leaving her to die on the beach.

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