Probe dead American's scuffle with Nigerian gang: Goa Congress

Panaji, Jan 19: The Congress on Tuesday, Jan 19 demanded a probe into an alleged scuffle US national Caitanya Lila Holt - who died in a north Goa village on January 12 - had with a gang of Nigerian drug peddlers a short while before his death.

"The police appears to be covering up the fact that he had a fight with a Nigerian gang dealing in drugs. This aspect should be probed," Congress spokesperson Agnelo Fernandes said.

Ohio-born Holt, 30, died mysteriously, reportedly choking on mud in Korgao village in north Goa, after he was chased by villagers and policemen after being mistaken for a thief.

A post-mortem on the body in the presence of US consular officials by a panel of government forensic doctors on Sunday revealed that Holt died of asphyxia after inhaling muddy water. The post-mortem also revealed injuries of non-fatal nature on the body.

While the government said the foreign national choked on mud, the opposition called the death technically a murder and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

"We have no faith in the Goa Police. The CBI should probe the case. Holt's death will also affect Goa's image as a tourism destination. Who will want to come to a place where a tourist has been chased and murdered?" Fernandes said.

IANS