Thaindian News

Panaji, May 27 (IANS) In a new twist to the Russian Elena Sukhona story, the Russian consulate has insisted on a DNA test to establish the identity of the teenager, whose mutilated body was found on railway tracks near here.
In a letter addressed to the superintendent of police (north), official representative of the Russian consulate, advocate Vikram Varma has asked the police for samples of her hair and nails for the DNA test, which will be held in Russia in order to establish that it was the 19-year-old Elena who had died.

“Elena’s parents are in Moscow. The body, especially the face was smashed beyond recognition. Her DNA sample would help to re-confirm the identity of the deceased beyond doubt,” Varma told IANS Wednesday.

Elena’s body was found May 8 nearly three kilometres from the Thivim railway station in North Goa, smashed beyond recognition.

The police, who initially claimed that Elena had died after accidentally falling from the train, had to retract their statement after Konkan Railway Corporation Limited officials said it was not possible for a person to come under the train on which he or she was travelling.

While several people have been detained for questioning, no formal arrest has been made yet. The case has been registered as an unnatural death. The Russian consulate in a letter to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has expressed disbelief at the police’s accident theory and has asked Kamat to personally monitor the investigation.