Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: What initially appeared to be a case of accidental drowning has now evolved into a murder investigation after post-mortem findings revealed serious head injuries on the body of a fishing boat owner recovered from the Zuari River.
Agacaim Police have registered a murder case in connection with the death of Manjunath Harikant, a fisherman and boat owner whose body was found floating in the river earlier this week. The case was initially recorded as an unnatural death pending medical examination.
However, investigators altered the course of the probe after the post-mortem examination reportedly concluded that Harikant had sustained grievous head injuries, raising strong suspicion of foul play.
Harikant, originally from Karnataka, had been associated with the fishing trade in the Kharewada area for several years. Known among local fishermen as a hardworking and independent boat owner, he was living alone in a rented room near the Kharewada jetty.
Members of the local fishing community said Harikant had spent years building his livelihood through traditional fishing operations. Sources revealed that he had previously owned two fishing boats but sold one to support family obligations, including his sister’s marriage. He thereafter continued operating a single vessel with the assistance of hired workers.
According to people familiar with his routine, Harikant would regularly set out for fishing trips before dawn and return later in the morning to sell his catch in local markets.
Even before the post-mortem report was received, fishermen in the area had expressed doubts over the circumstances of his death. Many believed that the incident warranted deeper investigation, citing the absence of any immediate explanation for how an experienced fisherman could have ended up dead in the river.
Following the registration of the murder case, investigators are now examining multiple angles, including the possibility that robbery may have been a motive. Sources said Harikant generally avoided storing money in his room and often carried cash with him due to the nature of his business and daily fish sales.
Police are also expected to scrutinise the victim’s recent movements and interactions. Since Harikant frequently employed labourers on a temporary basis for fishing operations, investigators may question individuals who worked with or were in contact with him in the days leading up to his death.
With the case now officially classified as murder, police have stepped up efforts to identify those responsible and reconstruct the events that led to the fatal assault. Investigators are also working to determine how Harikant’s body eventually ended up in the waters of the Zuari River.
