South Goa records 11 murders in six months of 2025 v/s 11 in whole of 2024

Margao: South Goa recorded 11 murder cases in the first six months of 2025, compared to 13 cases reported throughout the entire year of 2024. The increase prompted police to examine the underlying factors contributing to such crimes.

Police officials said they were focusing their attention on addressing the root causes of these incidents.Police sources said that disputes among migrant workers were identified as the primary factor behind most of these crimes. The construction industry, as well as the numerous industrial units in South Goa, attracts a substantial migrant workforce.Analysis of the murder cases shows that Ponda police station jurisdiction recorded the highest number of incidents, with four murders taking place in the area during the Jan-June period.

The Maina-Curtorim and Mormugao police stations reported two murder cases each within their respective jurisdictions, while Verna, Fatorda, and Margao police stations registered one murder incident each during the same period.Despite the surge in cases, police succeeded in cracking all reported murder cases. In several instances, the police also filed chargesheets against the accused in the courts. The current numbers point to a departure from what appeared to be a declining trend.

In 2023, South Goa recorded nine murder cases, while in 2022, 25 murder incidents were reported across all police stations in South Goa.Police identified alcohol addiction among migrant workers as a significant contributing factor to the rising violence. “The combination of financial stress, workplace disputes, and substance abuse creates a volatile environment that often erupts into fatal altercations,” a police official said.