Unnatural death of Israeli tourist in Goa: Police

PANAJI: An Israeli woman, who was found dead in her room at a Goa resort two days ago, died in unnatural circumstances, the police said Wednesday.

"We have ruled out the possibility of death due to drug overdose as no narcotic substance was recovered from the room," Kishen Kumar, inspector general of Goa Police, said.

The tourist, identified as Mirian Lahmi, 57, was found dead Monday on the bed of her room in Dream Catcher resort at Palolem in south Goa.

Kumar said Mirian's body was found on the bed under the sheet and it looked like the woman was asleep.

Mirian had come to Goa in early February and had been staying at the resort since then. "However, since the last two weeks, she had not come out of her room, which was locked the entire time," Kumar said.

Sensing something amiss, resort officials broke open the room and found her dead. The body has been sent for post mortem examination and the viscera for chemical analysis.

Goa's image as a tourist haven has taken a severe hit ever since the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlette Keeling. Scarlette's semi-naked body was found on the popular Anjuna Beach Feb 18.

The police claim to have "cracked" the case after arresting two bartenders who are accused of raping and killing Scarlette after giving her drugs.

A German tourist Sunday alleged that she was molested by an unidentified man at Goa's Cavelossim beach.