PERNEM
Tension has been palpable in Varcha Wada, Morjim, following the murder of Umakant Khot on Wednesday, and angry locals have refused to accept assurances by police.
Locals and relatives have made it clear that detention and even arrest of labourers is meaningless. They want the mastermind behind the murder to be arrested soon, and till then, they will not take possession of the body.
Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar visited the bereaved Knot family to offer his condolences and later held talks with relatives and locals, in the presence of Pernem DySP Salim Sheikh and Mandrem Police Inspector Virendra Naik.
The locals told Arolkar and the police officials that nothing would be achieved with the arrest of the labourers. They demanded the arrest of the mastermind behind the murder of Khot.
Many locals complained that large tracts of land have been sold to outsiders in Mandrem constituency, leading to hill-cutting activities, felling of trees, illegal construction of bore wells and construction projects.
They warned that if the government did not put a stop to this activity, they would not remain silent. They also threatened to oppose any road-widening work in Morjim.
Arolkar reassured the locals that as long as he is their MLA, internal roads will not be allowed to be widened.
Voicing confidence that police would investigate the matter thoroughly, Arolkar appealed to the locals and relatives not to interfere in the work of the police.
Arolkar informed that all inspectors of all three police stations at Mandrem, Pernem and Mopa in Pernem taluka, as well as the DySP and SP, are making concerted efforts to arrest the accused involved in the murder of Khot.
Arolkar highlighted the need to restrict “outsiders” and the real estate lobby from buying land in huge quantities and entering into conflict with the locals.
“Non-Goans who come and settle in Goa should first understand and appreciate the culture of Goa and make efforts to preserve that culture. Non-Goans operate differently in other states, and that will not work in Goa. We will not tolerate their dadagiri in Goa and especially in Mandrem constituency," warned Arolkar.
Arolkar, however, said the problem pertaining to land issues also lies within.
“Why do outsiders come here? Our own people sell land to outsiders, that's why the Delhi lobby is coming here," said MLA Arolkar, while emphasising the need for locals to exercise control.
