Team Goemkarponn
PONDA: In a tragic incident, a 79-year-old man, identified as Sajro Gaonkar of Dharbandora, was found to have committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree branch near his residence on Monday. Ponda Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are conducting a further inquiry.
The police were alerted to the incident by a phone call from PCR Margao at 10:37 AM on September 1, 2025. Upon receiving the information, LPSI Anjali Dhulapkar of Ponda Police Station and her team rushed to the scene of the occurrence in Okamb, Dharbandora.
During the initial inquiry with the deceased’s family members, it was revealed that Mr. Gaonkar had taken his own life in the forest opposite his house, using a cotton rope as a ligature. His son, Dilip Gaonkar, informed the police that his father had been suffering from chronic health issues, including severe itching for the past two years and a persistent cough.
The police conducted a panchanama of the scene and an inquest panchanama over the body before it was sent for a post-mortem examination. The Police Surgeon certified the cause of death as due to suicidal hanging. Following the necessary legal and medical formalities, the body was handed over to the family for final religious rites.
While the police investigation is ongoing, the incident highlights the issue of suicide among the elderly, which is often linked to chronic health problems, loneliness, and depression. Health experts and organizations like the COOJ Mental Health Foundation in Goa emphasize the importance of providing mental health support and counseling to senior citizens, particularly those struggling with physical ailments.
