Thaindian News

Panaji, May 11 (IANS) The Goa Police Monday said they were keeping “all options open” in investigating the death of a 19-year-old Russian girl whose dismembered body was found near a railway track last week.
The claim came hours after Konkan Railway officials disputed the police’s earlier theory that Elena Sukhonova had died after falling off a train.

“We are still on the lookout for two waiters who had befriended the girl. They will be able to shed light on the reason why she wanted to stay back in Goa. But we are keeping all our options open at the moment,” Superintendent of Police (North) Tony Fernandes told reporters.

Elena’s body was found on the railway track near Revora village, about 3.5 km from the Thivim station in north Goa.

She had arrived in Goa April 19 as part of a group of tourists from Moscow. The group was to leave Goa May 3 when Elena went missing.

The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) officials said it was impossible for a person traveling aboard a train to fall off and come under its wheels.

The autopsy report conducted Monday evening said the injuries were caused by a sharp movement, possibly by coming under the train carriage’s wheels.

The Goa Police, who in the past have been severely criticised for botching up the case relating to British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s murder, have also been put on the back-foot by Russian consulate officials, who have insisted on a full-scale investigation into the latest incident.

“The consulate feels that police should investigate whether the fall under the train was accidental or homicidal,” advocate Vikram Varma, who represents the Russian consulate, told IANS.

Varma said the Russian consulate was following the events closely. “There are gaping holes in the events before Elena’s death that need to be probed thoroughly,” he added.