Social activist Father Bismarque Dias found dead

Priest-turned-social activist Father Bismarque Dias, who went missing yesterday, was today found dead near the sluice gate of Mandovi river at St Estevam village in North Goa, police said.

His body was fished out from Mandovi river this afternoon but the cause of the death is yet to be ascertained, police said.

Father Dias was last seen last evening near the sluice gate and was accompanied by two youths from the village, they said.

He had gone for a swim in the river, while the two youths stayed back in a hut on the river bank. They got worried when he did not return, but as it had got dark, they could not search for him, police said.

The duo then waited in the hut to resume their search in the morning and reported the matter to the family and police.

Police conducted a massive search along the Mandovi river, and fished out the body this afternoon, they said.

Dias had unsuccessfully contested from Cumbharjua constituency in the March, 2012 Goa Assembly elections, even after having been threatened with dire consequences if he did so.

He also participated in the "musical protest" against the proposed golf project at Tiracol, the protests by the fishing community in Vasco and against the Raheja project at Carmona.

He also took part in the meetings of the Aam Aadmi Party.