Panaji: A post-mortem conducted late on Saturday, on the remains of a 30-year-old US national, who controversially died after choking on mud in a paddy field on January 12, has attributed the death to asphyxia, even as the panel of two forensic doctors also identified non-fatal injuries on the body, a police official said.
"The provisional cause of death has been identified as aspiration of grey-brownish matter. There are multiple injuries on the body, but they are non fatal," a police official said on condition of anonymity, even as neither top police officials nor spokespersons for the government-run Goa Medical College, where the post-mortem was conducted, were willing to speak on record about the provisional findings.
Ohio-born Caitanya Lila Holt died mysteriously, reportedly choking on mud in the paddy field in Korgao village in North Goa, as he was chased by villagers and policemen after being mistaken for a thief.
It was also alleged in a section of the media that Holt was also beaten up by some individuals in the mob, who chased the deceased.
US embassy officials are already in Goa to formally enquire about the fatal incident and to attend the post mortem proceedings.
The police official also said that a viscera sample had also been extracted and would be sent for forensic analysis to a central government-run forensic institute either in Mumbai or in Hyderabad.
The death of Holt, which occurred around 35 km from Panaji, also found echo in the legislative assembly on Friday.
While the Opposition alleged that Holt's death was technically murder, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the incident unfortunate and said the American accidentally died.
Police earlier said Holt was acting in an "erratic manner", giving villagers the impression that he was a thief. He went to the homes of villagers and asked irrational questions, which made the people suspicious. They began chasing him, and the pursuit ended at the field.
"The provisional cause of death has been identified as aspiration of grey-brownish matter. There are multiple injuries on the body, but they are non fatal," a police official said on condition of anonymity, even as neither top police officials nor spokespersons for the government-run Goa Medical College, where the post-mortem was conducted, were willing to speak on record about the provisional findings.
It was also alleged in a section of the media that Holt was also beaten up by some individuals in the mob, who chased the deceased.
Advertisement
The police official also said that a viscera sample had also been extracted and would be sent for forensic analysis to a central government-run forensic institute either in Mumbai or in Hyderabad.
Advertisement
While the Opposition alleged that Holt's death was technically murder, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the incident unfortunate and said the American accidentally died.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Heavy Rain In Parts Of Goa, Streets Flooded, Traffic Affected Former Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar Quits BJP Ahead Of Polls One-Month-Old Infant Kidnapped From Goa Medical College: Police 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel China, Russia Concerned About India-US Relationship: Top American Diplomat 'Pager Bombs' Target Hezbollah In Lebanon. What We Know So Far - 5 Points UN Says Lebanon Pager Blasts 'Extremely Concerning Escalation' Kamala Harris Calls For End To War In Gaza, No Israeli Reoccupation Kamala Harris Dials Trump After Apparent Assassination Attempt Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.