A 61-year-old British woman was discovered dead in a rented accommodation in South Goa's Canacona on Friday morning, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances.
Sister Makes Tragic Discovery
The deceased has been identified as Katherine Mary Babington. The grim discovery was made by her sister, Rosemary Patricia, at approximately 9 am. According to police statements, Patricia visited the rented room in Galgibaga, Canacona, and found Babington unresponsive.
Patricia immediately alerted the emergency services. The body was subsequently transported to the community health centre at Canacona, where the duty doctor formally declared her dead.
Medical History and Police Investigation
Initial information provided to the police by the sister revealed that Katherine Mary Babington had been suffering from breathing issues and was under medication. She had been residing in the rented room for the past four months.
Following standard procedure, the police conducted an inquest panchnama at the scene. The body was then sent to the South Goa district hospital in Margao for necessary medico-legal formalities, including a post-mortem examination.
Case Registered Under New BNS
The Canacona police have officially registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This marks one of the early applications of the new legal code in the region for such an incident.
The investigation is being led by PSI Babu Desai and is proceeding under the direct supervision of Police Inspector (PI) Harish Raut Desai. Authorities have stated that further inquiries are actively underway to determine the precise cause of death and compile a complete sequence of events.
The case has drawn attention to the coastal area of Galgibaga, which is frequented by domestic and international tourists. Police are likely to scrutinise the deceased's recent medical history and activities in the preceding days.
