US officials given update on American's death in Goa

Goa Police have given an update to US consular officials regarding a probe into an American national's death last month, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

"US officials requested Goa Police for an update on the probe into the death of 30-year-old Caitanya Lila Holt on January 12 in the coastal village of Korgao, 40 km from Panaji. We informed them about the latest developments, including post-mortem report," Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg told reporters at police headquarters here.

The latest developments in the case will be passed on to the family of the deceased US national.

Ohio-born Holt, a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, died mysteriously after allegedly choking on mud in a paddy field in Korgao in north Goa, after he was chased by villagers and policemen who mistook him for a thief.

A post-mortem examination said Holt died of asphyxia, also revealing injuries of non-fatal nature on his body.

While the Goa opposition said Holt's death was technically a murder and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the death was an unfortunate accident. No arrests have been made so far in the case.