A young man, Ali Kalandar Khan, was fa tally stabbed on Friday af ternoon near a mosque in Gogal, Margao, triggering tension in the area follow ing Friday prayers, police and eyewitnesses said. According to po lice sources, the inci dent stemmed from a long-standing dispute over the management of the local masjid, which escalated into a heated confrontation between two groups. The argument reportedly spiralled out of control, culminating in Khan being attacked with a chopper in broad daylight. Khan sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH), Margao, where doctors declared him brought dead. Fatorda police confirmed that four persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the murder, though no formal arrests have been made so far. The area around the crime scene was immedi ately cordoned off, with heavy police deployment to prevent any further escalation.
Police officials said both rival groups had submitted rep resentations to local authorities on Thursday and again on Friday morning, flagging the unresolved masjid manage ment issue. Investigators believe the stabbing may have been the culmination of this simmering dispute. A panchanama was conducted at the scene, while a dog squad and fingerprint experts were pressed into service. Police are recording witness statements and scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify all those in volved and reconstruct the sequence of events. Following the attack, large crowds gathered near the crime spot and outside SGDH, further heightening tension. Senior police officers appealed for calm, assuring the public that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators. Local residents, speaking to the media, claimed the area has witnessed frequent disturbances in the past. Some al leged that police personnel were present in the vicinity at the time of the stabbing and dispersed the crowd shortly after the incident. According to locals, the assailants fled the scene imme diately after the attack and were chased by residents up to Borim. CCTV footage of the incident is reportedly available. Several locals identified one individual as the key con spirator, alleging that the killing was pre-planned, and named others they claimed were involved. During a subse quent local meeting, residents warned that they would not allow the body to be taken for last rites until all accused are arrested. One participant alleged receiving threats from an individual linked to the case. Residents also appealed to the Chief Minister to inter vene and ensure swift arrests. They reiterated their de mand for custodial action against all those involved. Police are probing all angles, including whether the at tack was premeditated or spontaneous. Officials noted that the meeting between the two groups earlier in the day was peaceful and that violence reportedly broke out after a PSI left the spot. Some locals further alleged that certain individuals involved had been habitual troublemakers, especially on Fridays.
