MARGAO
An ongoing dispute to control and manage the affairs of the Sunni Gulistan Masjid at the Gogol Housing Board ended in a murder after one person Ali Qalandar Khanjade (40) was stabbed to death after the Friday prayers.
Following the murder, a tense situation prevailed at the Gogol Housing Board area. Tension also erupted at the South Goa district Hospital, Margao and also outside the Fatorda police station where supporters of Khanjade demanded justice. They refused to take possession of his body till the police arrest all the accused involved in the murder.
The Fatorda police was prompt in arresting four persons, including one Akram and Ubed. Agitated supporters, however, claimed a conspiracy was hatched the previous night to execute the planned murder and demanded action against a couple of persons for their alleged involvement.
The incident is believed to have occurred after the Friday prayers when the victim was stabbed to death just near the gate of the Masjid.
Sources claimed that members of the two groups came face to face and were involved in fisticuffs before the matter escalated resulting in the stabbing incident near the gate.
Khanjade’s brother told media at the district hospital that the incident had occurred despite the presence of the police near the Masjid. “The incident is a fall out of the dispute to control the Masjid. My brother has lost his life”, he said.
As the people shifted the injured to the hospital, a large number of people also rushed to the hospital. Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco also rushed to the hospital. Additional police reinforcements were made to boost security at the hospital after the victim succumbed to his injuries. An incident occurred right inside the hospital wherein a group was seen assaulting one person.
Sub-divisional Police Officer, DySP Sidhant Shirodkar informed that the police have so far arrested four persons. He said the forensic team has visited crime spot as part of the investigations.
