Sikkim Resident arrested in Goa for Murder

PANAJI: A resident of Sikkim, Rohan Gurung, 26, was arrested by the Panaji police for the alleged murder of 42-year-old Poornima Pednekar at the KTC bus stand during the wee hours of Monday.

"We have registered the case under Section 302 of IPC (murder) at Panaji police station," said deputy superintendent of police Deu Banaulikar.

According to the police, the KTC bus stand watchman called the police station early Monday morning, informing them that a woman was lying motionless behind the bus stand`s public toilet. "The watchman also told us that earlier, he had seen Pednekar with a man and the couple was kissing each other," Banulikar said.

Later, the man in question was apprehended by the watchman and handed over to the patrolling police.

"The suspect involved in Pednekar`s death, who introduced himself as Rohan Gurung, a native of east Sikkim, Gangtok, said he has been working as a waiter at Foodicted bar and restaurant, Baga, since February 2011," Banaulikar added.

The police later sent the body to the Goa Medical College and hospital (GMC), Bambolim, for a postmortem. According to the report submitted by Dr Silvano Dias Sapeco and Dr Pannag Kumar of the GMC`s forensic department, the reason for death is: "Asphyxia as a result of smothering in soft soil, which was fatal in the ordinary course of nature in the person with injuries over the body which were ante-mortem and fresh at the time of death."

Banaulikar said that the accused has been placed under arrest and has been referred for a medical examination to ascertain if he sexually assaulted the deceased.