PANAJI: Goa police on Saturday arrested a Delhi man, Deepan Rajeev Batra, 23, after he ran over a Mandrem resident, Maria Joao Fernandes, with his four-wheeler, following an altercation over some dog issue. Fernandes succumbed to her injuries, and Mandrem police arrested Batra for murder.
On Friday night, soon after the incident at around 9pm, villagers gathered at Mandrem police station to demand Batra’s arrest. Only after they received an assurance from the police that a murder case would be registered, they left the police station early Saturday morning.
North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal said that as per the initial report, it was stated that an accident took place in the Junaswada area of Mandrem police station jurisdiction, wherein a woman was injured by a speeding car.
“As soon as the incident was reported in the police station, an investigation was launched. The car involved in the incident was seized, and Batra, a resident of New Multan Nagar, Paschim Vihar, Delhi, was arrested,” Kaushal said. Police said Batra came to the police station after c the crime. Initial investigation showed that the deceased and her family members had a verbal and physical altercation with the accused and his family members.
The investigation revealed that while Batra was on a walk with his parents, he got into a verbal altercation with Fernandes’ son, who objected to the dog being walked close to his mother’s house.
“Soon, the arguments turned physical, and blows were exchanged between both sides. These resulted in injuries being sustained by both parties, with the accused’s hand having bite marks, for which a medical examination was conducted,” Kaushal said.
“After the fight, Batra sat in the car with his parents and deliberately hit the victim while she was trying to place a chair outside her home. Based on the investigation conducted, an FIR under Sections 103 (Murder) and 281 (rash driving) of BNSS, 2023, was registered,” said Kaushal.
Batra had previously worked as a chef in Dubai. “At present, he was working on a self-funded film project and has been staying at Sawantwada, Mandrem, in Goa since Dec 2023,” said Kaushal.
A forensic examination of the scene of the crime and the vehicle was conducted.