PANAJI
More than 15 days after the brutal killing of 64-year-old senior citizen Umakant Khot of Varcha Wada, Morjim, the Mandrem police have yet to trace the prime suspect in the case, sparking outrage among residents and the village panchayat.
Khot was murdered on November 5 after he went to inspect illegal construction activity on land where his family has interests. The property had reportedly been sold to Ashok Kumar Nandurumali without Khot’s consent, and a road was being carved out with hill-cutting activity underway.
Despite Khot’s repeated written complaints to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department and other authorities over the past year, no action was forthcoming.
Police registered a case against four individuals: Ashok Kumar Nandurumali, Supervisor Lokesh Putta Swamy (53), excavator operator Rohit Kumar Prajapati (20), and Vijay Sasuppan (36). Of these, three -- Lokesh, Rohit, and Vijay -- were arrested soon after the incident.
After a 14-day police custody remand was completed, a court has sent them to judicial custody for another 14 days.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that all three accused have now applied for bail, but the absence of the main suspect, Nandurumali, continues to fuel public anger, with villagers demanding stronger police action and accountability from the government for ignoring Khot’s earlier complaints.
The case has become a flashpoint in Morjim, highlighting concerns over land disputes, illegal construction, and the safety of whistleblowers.
