Mapusa/Panaji: The peaceful village of Morjim turned grim after 63-year-old senior citizen Umakant Khot was brutally killed over a property dispute. The postmortem report confirmed that Khot died from severe blows to his face and head, damaging his brain. Shockingly, police have now registered a serious FIR against four accused in connection with this gruesome killing. Khot had tenancy rights on a property in Varchawada, Morjim, where recent construction work sparked tensions. A new party from outside Goa purchased part of this property and began building. The accused include the property owner Ashok Nedurumali, construction site supervisor Lokesh Puttaswamy from Karnataka, earthmoving operator Rohit Prajapati from Jharkhand, and gardener Viji Suppan from Tamil Nadu. The police FIR reveals a dark tale of criminal conspiracy, stating: "The accused person No. one, who is the owner of the property, hatched the criminal conspiracy along with the three other accused. The accused No. 02, 03 and 04, with the common intention assaulted Umakant Khot, who is a tenant of the property over the issue of property dispute, thereby causing him severe injuries over his body and when shifted to CHC Tuem he was declared brought dead, and hence committed his murder." Earlier, only an unnatural death case was registered. Family members had long suspected foul play and refused to accept Khot’s body for his last rites until the main accused was caught. After police added murder charges, the family agreed to proceed with the funeral on Friday. Khot’s nephew, Samir Gaude, voiced the family's pain and anger: "It has been over 24 hours, no arrests have been made. We demand that the owner of the property be arrested along with his workers. The construction licenses issued to the structure should be revoked." Adding to the tension, police stated that Khot was attacked when he went to attend a government flying squad inspection. He had complained several times about hill-cutting and illegal construction behind his house. His family found him injured at the site, confirming their painful belief that he was beaten to death. This tragic case highlights the fierce battles happening over land and power in Goa’s serene locales. Will justice be swift? The community is watching closely as police search for swift action against the accused.