Irish man arrested over alleged link to death of tourist in India

Arrest in Goa follows alleged beating of man to death with set of bongo drums

Tourists at  Anjuna beach in the western Indian state of Goa.  A spokeswoman for Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of  reports an Irish man has been arrested in connection with the alleged murder of a Norwegian tourist in Goa. File photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters
Tourists at Anjuna beach in the western Indian state of Goa. A spokeswoman for Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of reports an Irish man has been arrested in connection with the alleged murder of a Norwegian tourist in Goa. File photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

An Irish man has been arrested in connection with the death of a Norwegian tourist in India.

The 49-year-old Irish citizen was arrested by police in Goa in connection with the death of Sundra Erdemir on Saturday.

Local media reported the man died after he was allegedly beaten to death with a set of bongo drums.

It reported the two men got into an argument and that “in a fit of rage” the Irish man picked up a wooden drum and hit Mr Erdemir on the head.

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Mr Erdemir died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital shortly afterwards.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the reports through their embassy in India.

Police arrested the Irish man and charged him with attempted murder, but this was later upgraded to murder.

An investigation by Indian police is ongoing.