Following a strong protest from rel atives and locals who re fused to accept the body of 63-year-old Umakant Khot until the prime accused were arrested, the Man drem Police on Thursday swung into action, arrest ing three persons in con nection with the murder. The arrested individu als have been identified as Lokesh Puttaswamy (su pervisor), Rohit Kumar Prajapati (JCB operator) and Viji Suppan (cook/gar dener). Earlier, police had named four persons, including Ashok Kumar Nedurumali alias Nedurumali Ashok Kumar, the owner of prop erty survey no. 156/3 in Morjim village; Lokesh Puttaswamy from Karnata ka; Rohit Kumar Prajapati from Jharkhand; and Viji Suppan from Tamil Nadu, among others. According to police re ports, Arjun Chandrekant Gaude from Paithan, Sal vador do Mundo, lodged a complaint alleging that on November 5, at survey number 149/1 in Morjim, Ashok Kumar Neduruma li conspired with others and assaulted his uncle, Umakant Khot, causing grievous injuries that led to his death. The case has been regis tered under Section 103(1) and 61(2)(a) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya San hita (BNS). Initially, police had registered an unnatu ral death case under Sec tion 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023. The investi gation is being conducted by PSI Sunil Patil of Man drem Police Station. Family members have alleged that the post-mor tem report revealed blunt force trauma to the face and head, resulting in brain damage and death. They have vowed not to accept the body until all accused are arrested. “The murder took place yesterday but till date no case has been registered despite a written com plaint. Unless the accused are brought to book, we will not accept the body. It is our final decision,” said Rajan Gawade, Khot’s nephew. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Varchawada, Morjim, where Khot — known for his active opposition to ille gal hill-cutting at a nearby construction site — was allegedly attacked while on his way to meet a flying squad team scheduled to inspect the site. The murder has triggered widespread outrage in the area. Locals have accused the authorities of dragging their feet and claimed that “only some workers were questioned” while neither the builder nor the bounc ers were called for interro gation. “All procedures are an eyewash,” villagers said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa has strongly con demned the murder. A del egation led by AAP Work ing President Valmiki Naik submitted a memorandum to the Mandrem Police Station, demanding the im mediate arrest of the main conspirators, including the landowner and the buyer of the disputed property. “Goa has witnessed re peated law and order fail ures. People are being beat en to death while this BJP government looks away. Umakant Khot was a legal tenant, yet his land was sold illegally, and when he opposed the illegal hill cut ting, he was killed,” said Val miki Naik. AAP Mandrem leader Prasad Shahpurkar added, “If the main conspirators are not arrested, we will lead a morcha to the police station. It is shameful that someone who fought to protect Goa’s land is beaten to death while the police re main inactive.”
Mandrem Police Arrest Three in Connection with Umakant Khot Murder Following Public Outcry
