Team Goemkarponn
GOGOL: About two weeks after being sealed following a fatal incident, the Sunni Gulistan Masjid at the Gogol Housing Board in Margao was reopened on Tuesday, just ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
Sub-divisional Magistrate Ganesh Barve, while issuing the reopening order, clarified that the permission is temporary and does not settle any disputes regarding the management or control of the mosque. The SDM emphasized that the law and order situation will be periodically reviewed, and compliance with the conditions of the order will be closely monitored.
Under the directive, the Fatorda Police are required to maintain adequate security within and around the mosque, particularly during Friday prayers, congregational gatherings, and special Ramadan events. Police have also been instructed to prevent any acts that may disturb public peace and to ensure CCTV cameras remain operational, with recordings preserved for at least 30 days for official review. Any breach of the order could result in immediate reconsideration, including the possibility of resealing the mosque.
The masjid had been closed on February 2 under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to prevent potential disturbances following a murder near the premises. In the days leading up to the reopening, community members approached BJP State President Damu Naik, seeking his intervention with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to facilitate the mosque’s reopening.
On Tuesday evening, SDM Ganesh Barve held a meeting with former masjid committee members, police officials, and other stakeholders to assess the situation. The committee representatives assured authorities of their commitment to maintaining peace, communal harmony, and adherence to legal directives.
Goa Haj Committee Chairman Urfan Mulla expressed gratitude to BJP State President Damu Naik, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, District Collector Egna Cleetus, SP Santosh Desai, and DySP Sidhant Shirodkar for their role in enabling the reopening of the mosque.
