Panaji, Aug 4 (IBNS): In what could be an alarming trend in Goa, 56 persons have died after ingesting ‘ratol’ poison in the last three years.

Two infamous deaths of Nadia Torrado and Constable Chandru Gawas are among the total number of cases registered at different police stations.

A report tabled on the floor of the House on Friday revealed that only two persons, names of whom have been kept a secret, were lucky to survive despite consuming the poison.

In a written reply, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said five persons were arrested for abetment to suicide during this period.

In majority cases, respective magistrate's have submitted the 'suicidal death summary' to the police while the remaining are being investigated and two cases are under trial.

Two year back, ex-tourism minister Francisco Mickky Pacheco was arrested on the same charge after his friend Nadia Torrado died in a Chennai hospital. He was subsequently released on bail.

While in yet another controversial death of the driver constable Chandru Gawas last year, the police are yet to make arrests even as a police inspector is being held responsible for forcing his subordinate to take a drastic step.

(Reporting by John Edwards)