North Goa News

Goan Woman Cheated By Employment Agents Rescued From Bahrain
Ndtv | 1 month ago | |
Ndtv
1 month ago | |

The woman was rescued by Mumbai Police with the help of the Indian embassy. (Representational image)Mumbai: A 23-year-old woman from Goa who was duped by two agents and sent to Bahrain on the promise of a good job has been rescued by Mumbai Police with the help of the Indian embassy, an official said.The woman, resident of Tiswadi in North Goa district, landed in Delhi from Dubai on Tuesday, he said.She had left for the Gulf country on February 17.After reaching there, she was asked to work as a domestic help and when she refused, her employer registered a false case of theft against her and took away her mobile phone.Bahrain authorities informed the Indian embassy about her following the registration of a theft case, and the embassy contacted her family back in India.Her uncle approached the Mumbai crime branch on March 14, the official said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comOfficials of unit-10 of the crime branch then contacted her employment agents. They also contacted office-bearers of the Gulf-Maharashtra Business Forum and sought their help, he said.With the combined efforts of police, embassy officials and the forum, the woman was rescued and brought to India, he added.

Goan Woman Cheated By Employment Agents Rescued From Bahrain
Black panther rescued from Goa village kept under observation at zoo
The Indian Express | 2 months ago | |
The Indian Express
2 months ago | |

A black panther rescued from a village in Goa has been temporarily shifted to a state-run zoo for observation, a forest department official said on Sunday.The forest department on Saturday rescued the animal from Balli village in South Goa district by laying a trap after it was seen venturing into a human settlement.The black panther was then taken to the Bondla Zoo in North Goa to keep it under observation.“The animal has minor injuries and is being treated. The feline will not be displayed to the public. When the animal is fit, it would be released into a deep forest in Goa,” the official said.The forest department is also investigating what made the panther leave its habitat and enter the human settlement.“We will be studying the animal’s food intake to understand why it came into the human settlement,” the official said.Earlier, Goa Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane had in a tweet said a trapping mechanism was set up at Balli village in Quepem (South Goa) and the animal was rescued in the early hours of Saturday.Once the necessary procedures are completed, the animal will be released in a wildlife sanctuary, he had said.

Black panther rescued from Goa village kept under observation at zoo
Drunken driving, indiscipline behind spike in accidents: Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

PANAJI: CM Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that drunken driving and indiscipline on roads are some of the reasons for the increase in accidents. He added that the Goa police traffic cell, transport department and PWD are holding meetings and will chalk out a plan to reduce accidents.Sawant pointed out that the vehicle population has increased compared to the state population. "There are three reasons for the increase in accidents. These include people not following rules, drunken driving, rash and negligence driving among others," he said. The chief minister added that people should cooperate with the authorities, and this will help reduce the frequency of road accidents.In 2020, the vehicle population was 14.5 lakh vehicles, in 2021, it was 14.9 lakh and in 2022 it climbed to 15.4 lakh, but the infrastructure more or less stayed the same. Police said that looking at 2020-21 and 2021-2022, there has been a 3% increase in vehicle population, but the infrastructure hasn't changed much.It has been found that two-thirds of the people who died in road accidents in 2022 were linked to two-wheelers. The state witnessed an almost 9% rise in road accidents during the year.In 2022, 3,011 road accidents were reported, of which 253 were fatal, wherein 271 succumbed to injuries. A total number of 181 persons on two-wheelers died in accidents while 51 pedestrians lost their lives.In 2021, 2,849 accidents were reported, of which 218 were fatal. Almost 226 people lost their lives. A total number of 152 persons on two-wheelers died while 36 pedestrians were killed.The highest number of accidents in North Goa was reported in the jurisdiction of Panaji, Mapusa and Porvorim police stations areas. In South Goa, the highest number of accidents were reported in Ponda, Verna and Vasco police station areas.State witnessed 9% rise in road accidents in 2022In 2020, the vehicle population was 14.5 lakh vehicles, in 2021, it was 14.9 lakh and in 2022 it climbed to 15.4 lakh, but the infrastructure more or less stayed the same. Police said that looking at 2020-21 and 2021-2022, there has been a 3% increase in vehicle population, but the infrastructure hasn't changed much.It has been found that two-thirds of the people who died in road accidents in 2022 were linked to two-wheelers. The state witnessed an almost 9% rise in road accidents during the year.In 2022, 3,011 road accidents were reported, of which 253 were fatal, wherein 271 succumbed to injuries. A total number of 181 persons on two-wheelers died in accidents while 51 pedestrians lost their lives.In 2021, 2,849 accidents were reported, of which 218 were fatal. Almost 226 people lost their lives. A total number of 152 persons on two-wheelers died while 36 pedestrians were killed.The highest number of accidents in North Goa was reported in the jurisdiction of Panaji, Mapusa and Porvorim police stations areas. In South Goa, the highest number of accidents were reported in Ponda, Verna and Vasco police station areas.

Drunken driving, indiscipline behind spike in accidents: Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Drugs not manufactured here, only retailed in Goa: SP North
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

PANAJI: Goa police on Tuesday made it clear that the state is neither a place where drugs are manufactured nor does any drug syndicate operate here and that the recent increase in drug cases is due to increased police vigilance. “Goa is a place where drugs are retailed. We haven’t found any evidence supporting the allegations that Goa is a place where drugs are manufactured and that there is an organised drug syndicate operating in the state,” said North Goa superintendent of police (SP) Nidhin Valsan. The North Goa SP said that drugs come to the state from outside, which peddlers then sell here. “There are different routes by which drugs enter the state, including trains and buses, among others,” he said.“Ganja and charas are brought to the state by Indians, and with respect to synthetic drugs like cocaine, we have found the involvement of foreign nationals,” said Valsan. He said that the recent increase in drug cases is because police have become extra cautious and active. “Under the guidance of the chief minister and the DGP, we have issued repeated instruction to all police officers to have zero tolerance to drugs. We have created specific teams and all our officers are being repeatedly briefed and sensitised to take action against drugs and that is why our drug catches are increasing,” said Valsan.Peddlers, he said, buy the drugs from those who bring them into the state from other states, adding that whenever a peddler is caught, the news spreads and the main seller goes underground.“We keep track of them. It is not necessary that we nab them immediately. We are actually tracking them. We have the details and as soon as we find them, we arrest them,” said Valsan when asked why police are not able to nab the source of the drug trade.Goa witnessed a 65% increase in drug seizures in 2022 compared to the previous year. Last year, police seized over 207kg of narcotic substances worth over Rs 5.1 crore, and arrested 180 persons. Over half of those arrested were from outside the state (97), followed by Goans (54) and foreigners (29). In 2021, Goa police seized over 134kg of various kinds of drugs worth over Rs 2.7 crore and arrested 138 persons.

Drugs not manufactured here, only retailed in Goa: SP North
Nitin Gadkari to look into Bhoma bypass plan
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

PANAJI: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari has said that he will look into the request for a bypass road by halting the proposed plan to expand the existing highway passing through Corlim and Bhoma villages of North Goa. Union minister of state for tourism Shripad Naik had written to Gadkari to consider the villagers’ request for a bypass road.“I am in receipt of your letter dated November 11, 2022, requesting that road widening of NH4A through Corlim and Bhoma villages of North Goa be halted in favour of a bypass highway through the neighbouring fallow fields instead,” said Gadkari in his response to Naik. “I am having the matter looked into.” Corlim and Bhoma villagers are opposing the road widening, stating that it will lead to the loss of houses and temples and change the character of the village, which is one of the smallest in Goa.They state that the highway expansion will require the demolition of some important temples in the village. As a major chunk of the village land has already been utilised for an industrial estate, they said that the expansion of the road will further destroy the structure of the village.In October last year, a retired professor, Erwin De Sa, had written to Naik requesting that the proposed work be halted and that the construction of a bypass through the neighbouring fallow fields be considered instead. “I shall be grateful if you kindly look into the request by Professor De Sa and do the needful,” Naik, a resident of Corlim himself, had stated in his representation to Gadkari.The locals have proposed an alternative route of 7km that connects the Kadamba plateau to Kundaim. Not only is this route 2km shorter, but it also avoids human settlement areas and passes through mostly fallow land, according to the villagers.

Nitin Gadkari to look into Bhoma bypass plan
Panel visits school to probe child’s death in hot water tub
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

MARGAO: The child welfare committee, North Goa, on Wednesday visited St Francis Xavier Academy for special children and conducted a detailed inquiry into the death of a seven-year-old child on Monday, caused by falling into a hot water tub. “Whenever such cases occur, it is mandatory under the Juvenile Justice Act to conduct an in-depth inquiry, check facilities and take statements of all concerned,” the chairperson of the child welfare committee, North Goa, told TOI. “We conducted the inquiry and will submit our detailed report to the directorate of women and child development and the district collector.” The inquiry report is likely to be submitted on Thursday. Thereafter, the directorate of women and child development will take a call on the action to be taken. The directorate has also called for an incident report from police. To ensure the safety and well-being of inmates, regular inspections of the 56 childcare institutions of Goa are conducted by the two district inspection committees headed by the collectors of North and South Goa, director of women and child development Deepali Naik said. The committee members interact with children and staff, check children’s academic progress, ensure that documentation is in place, and follow up on the renewal of licences which is done every five years. Instructions are accordingly given to institutions to improve facilities for children. “The focus is on the safety and well-being of children,” Naik said. “The committee checks how an institution is run and whether all the necessary facilities and services are provided to children including counselling.” Naik added, “The committee also checks the individual plan prepared for each child and assesses the cleanliness of institutions.”

Panel visits school to probe child’s death in hot water tub
Man gets 10-year RI for raping 17-year-old in 2018
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

MARGAO: The fast-track special court, Panaji, has sentenced a man to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor. The prosecution, however, failed to establish that the 17-year-old survivor had become pregnant after the accused raped her. He was acquitted on that count. He was 19 at the time of the crime.During the cross-examination, the survivor stated that when she was staying with the accused in a rented room, a fight broke out between them as the accused refused to accept that the child in her womb was his. A complaint was then lodged and he was arrested.The court found that although the medical report showed the survivor was pregnant, no DNA test had been conducted to determine whether the accused was the biological father of the girl child. The investigating officer stated that the DNA test was not conducted as the survivor was not traceable after she filed the complaint.The court found discrepancies in the name of the father shown in the birth certificate of the child and added that no divergence certificate was produced on record to prove that it is of the accused. “As such, that creates doubt on the story of the prosecution as to whether the accused is the father of the child,” stated the presiding officer, fast-track special court (Pocso) Panaji, Durga V Madkaikar. “Thus, the prosecution has failed to establish that pursuant to rape and penetrative sexual act of the accused, the victim, aged 17 years, became pregnant.”The case of the prosecution was that in 2018, on the pretext of marrying the 17-year-old girl, the accused took her to North Goa and raped her.The mother of the girl lodged a complaint after she couldn’t find her daughter. The survivor called her on two to three occasions over a period of two to three months. The mother then invited her to a family wedding. When they met, the woman was shocked to find her daughter four months pregnant.At the time, the accused told the woman that he would marry the girl. However, he backtracked later. In her evidence, the survivor stated that she met the accused through Facebook when she was in Standard IX. Soon thereafter, she dropped out of school to work, following her father’s death. The prosecution’s case was that in 2018, on the pretext of marrying the 17-year-old girl, the accused took her to North Goa and raped her.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

Man gets 10-year RI for raping 17-year-old in 2018
Goa man gets 10-year RI for raping 17-year-old in 2018
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

MARGAO: The fast-track special court, Panaji, has sentenced a man to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor. The prosecution, however, failed to establish that the 17-year-old survivor had become pregnant after the accused raped her. He was acquitted on that count. He was 19 at the time of the crime.During the cross-examination, the survivor stated that when she was staying with the accused in a rented room, a fight broke out between them as the accused refused to accept that the child in her womb was his. A complaint was then lodged and he was arrested.The court found that although the medical report showed the survivor was pregnant, no DNA test had been conducted to determine whether the accused was the biological father of the girl child. The investigating officer stated that the DNA test was not conducted as the survivor was not traceable after she filed the complaint.The court found discrepancies in the name of the father shown in the birth certificate of the child and added that no divergence certificate was produced on record to prove that it is of the accused. “As such, that creates doubt on the story of the prosecution as to whether the accused is the father of the child,” stated the presiding officer, fast-track special court (Pocso) Panaji, Durga V Madkaikar. “Thus, the prosecution has failed to establish that pursuant to rape and penetrative sexual act of the accused, the victim, aged 17 years, became pregnant.”The case of the prosecution was that in 2018, on the pretext of marrying the 17-year-old girl, the accused took her to North Goa and raped her.The mother of the girl lodged a complaint after she couldn’t find her daughter. The survivor called her on two to three occasions over a period of two to three months. The mother then invited her to a family wedding. When they met, the woman was shocked to find her daughter four months pregnant.At the time, the accused told the woman that he would marry the girl. However, he backtracked later. In her evidence, the survivor stated that she met the accused through Facebook when she was in Standard IX. Soon thereafter, she dropped out of school to work, following her father’s death. The prosecution’s case was that in 2018, on the pretext of marrying the 17-year-old girl, the accused took her to North Goa and raped her.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

Goa man gets 10-year RI for raping 17-year-old in 2018
7-year-old girl dies in Goa after falling into hot water at special school, 2 booked
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

PANAJI: Old Goa police booked two people after a seven-year-old child died after falling into a hot water tub at the St Francis Xavier academy for special children. Old Goa PI Satish Padwalkar said that they have booked hostel warden Rita Fernandes, 51, a nun, and Meena Dabre, 48, a helper for death due to negligence. They have also been booked under Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act, and Sections 75 and 85 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.Padwalkar said that Old Goa police received a complaint from Esther Torres, chairperson of the child welfare committee, North, Apna Ghar, that at around 4.45pm on Monday, Fernandes and Dabre, who were assigned to take care of the girl (among others), left them unattended near the tub. He said that the tub had very hot water, and that the child fell in it and sustained burn injuries. “The girl was shifted to Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital for treatment, where she succumbed to her injuries,” Padwalkar said.The PI said that the body has been preserved at GMC, and that he has written to the North Goa collector to direct a deputy collector to conduct an inquiry into the matter. He added that the girl’s family is from Odisha, and that her father is an engineer who works in a private company.

7-year-old girl dies in Goa after falling into hot water at special school, 2 booked
  • Girl, 7, Dies After Falling Into Hot Water In Bath Tub At Goa Centre: Police

    • Ndtv

    Police said the process of filing an FIR was underway (representational)Panaji: A seven-year-old girl died of burn injuries after falling into a bath tub with hot water in a centre for the specially-abled in Old Goa, a police official said on Monday.The child fell into the bath tub, which had hot water, at around 5pm on Sunday in the St Xavier's Training cum Production Centre for Children with Disabilities, and she died at 2am on Monday, the official said.According to a letter written to the state's Child Welfare Committee by Father Rosario Walter D Souza, who represents the missionary-run centre, the child fell into the bath tub with hot water when the warden had gone to fetch more water.The mentally unwell child was rushed to a private hospital and then the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital, where she died of 79 per cent burns at 2am on Monday, according to Mr Rosario's communication to the CWC.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe Old Goa police station official said the process of filing an FIR was underway in the case, and the district collector has been informed, who has instituted an inquiry under the sub divisional magistrate since the victim is a minor.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayWatch: "Satisfied After Lunch" - Baby Rescued 128 Hours After Turkey Quake

44-year-old man held with drugs worth Rs 2 lakh in Goa
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

PANAJI: Anjuna police on Sunday arrested a 44-year-old Siolim resident for allegedly illegally possessing narcotic substances worth Rs 2 lakh.DySP Jivba Dalvi said that reliable information was received regarding the accused person being involved in drug activities.“Based upon the information, a raid was conducted, wherein accused Nitin Suresh Banaulikar was found in illegal possession of 23.4g of a psychotropic drug suspected to be cocaine, worth Rs 1.8 lakh, and 3.4g of a psychotropic drug suspected to be ecstacy, worth Rs 17,000,” Dalvi said.The said illegal suspected narcotic drug, along with other exhibits, has been seized by the police following provisions of the NDPS Act.Further investigation is in progress under the supervision of PI Prashal Dessai and North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan.

44-year-old man held with drugs worth Rs 2 lakh in Goa
Highway expansion makes way for India’s first crocodile shrine in Goa
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

KERI: In a non-descript village in North Goa’s Pernem taluka, at the confluence of two rivers, villagers have recently constructed India’s first known shrine dedicated to crocodiles. Here, at Poroscodem, just alongside the national highway, locals worship the mugger.The nearest known shrine dedicated to crocodiles exists only in Karachi, Pakistan, where the muggers are believed to be manifestation of the 13th century Sufi saint, Pir Mangho.In Goa, it is common to find crocodiles thriving in marshes, lakes, rivers and even in artificial ponds. Though they belong to the freshwater mugger species, they have adapted to saline waters too.The villagers of Poroscodem, who were once predominantly farmers, had a tradition of praying to crocodiles for a good yield of the winter crop. However, after highway expansion was taken up in Goa from the year 2016, the spot where crocodiles were known to come for basking was lost to road construction work.Determined to ensure that the crocodile worship tradition does not go extinct, Poroscodem residents came together to build the shrine at the nearest spot to where the muggers would once be spotted. “Every year, we would make an effigy of the crocodile with clay and would ritualistically worship it at the Susaricho bandh for a bountiful yield. However, following the construction of the highway, we decided to create a permanent crocodile effigy of cement and concrete. Here, we are able to offer our gratitude year-round,” said Uttam Teli, a Poroscodem resident.Bandh is a clay barrier traditionally built to restrict the flow of saline water from entering agricultural fields. In Poroscodem, the bandh where crocodiles liked to bask stood at the confluence of the Ugan nullah and the Tiracol river.It is this bandh that was eventually taken up for expansion of the national highway.“Our village was earlier largely agricultural, and we were involved in cultivating winter paddy crops. We would therefore worship the crocodile to seek blessing for a good crop as well for not causing any harm to us,” said Yeshwant Gaonkar from Jyotibanagar, Poroscodem.In Indian mythology, the crocodile is known as the mount of the god Varun, associated with the oceans and water. It is considered as the vehicle for the river goddesses Ganga and Narmada too. But in Poroscodem, the crocodile is seen more as a folk deity.The North Goa village is among a handful in Goa that follow the unique ritual of creating a crocodile’s image from clay for worship during the tenth month of the lunar calendar, Paush. The practice is known locally as ‘mange thapni’, which roughly translates to ‘moulding a crocodile’.At a time when misconceptions that these broad-snouted marsh crocodiles attack humans has resulted in the muggers remaining in the IUCN Red List since 1982, Poroscodem has set an example in harmonious living.

Highway expansion makes way for India’s first crocodile shrine in Goa
Drugs worth Rs Rs 1.5 lakh seized at Goa’s Agasaim
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

PANAJI: Police on Saturday arrested Manish Kumar Seth, a 30-year-old resident of UP, and seized alleged narcotic substance worth Rs 1.5 lakhThe Agasaim police station received information that one person was likely to strike a deal involving narcotics at Mai Maria bar and restaurant, Malwara, Agasaim. Police said once the information was confirmed, a raid was conducted. “We have arrested Seth after he was found in illegal possession of 1.5kg of greenish colour leafy narcotic substance suspected to be ganja worth Rs 1.5 lakh,” North Goa superintendent of police Nidhin Valsan said.Further investigation is being conducted under the supervision of DySP Sudesh Naik. In the last couple of months, Goa Police have been active against the drug trade and conducted raids to seize narcotics across the state, specifically in coastal belt of Goa.

Drugs worth Rs Rs 1.5 lakh seized at Goa’s Agasaim
  • Goa police seize narcotic substance worth Rs 1.5 lakh

    • Times of India

    PANAJI: The Goa Police on Saturday arrested one Manish Kumar Seth (30), a resident of Uttar Pradesh and seized alleged narcotic substance worth Rs 1.5 lakh from his possession.The Agacaim police station received information that a man was likely to strike a deal involving narcotics at Mai Maria bar and restaurant at Malwara. Police said once the information was confirmed, a raid was conducted. “We have arrested Manish Kumar Seth after he was found in illegal possession of 1.5kg of greenish colour leafy narcotic substance suspected to be ganja worth Rs 1.5 lakh,” North Goa superintendent of police Nidhin Valsan said.Further investigation is being conducted under the supervision of deputy superintendent (SP) of police Sudesh Naik. In the last couple of month Goa Police have been active against the drug trade and conducted raids to seize narcotics across the state, specifically in coastal belt of Goa.

Vagator club manager booked for playing loud music after 11pm
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

Panaji: Anjuna police station has registered an offence against the manager of a club at Vagator for allegedly playing loud music beyond 11pm.Deputy superintendent of police (DySP) Jivba Dalvi said that the action was taken based on a complaint by a member secretary of Goa State Pollution Control Board. Dalvi said an offence has been registered under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000. This is the third noise pollution offence registered in a month at the Anjuna police station.Further investigation is being conducted under the supervision of superintendent of police (North) Nidhin Valsan. North Goa police had constituted a three-member special flying squad to stop loud music beyond 10pm.Police have also released a new number— 7875756117 —to contact them via call/text/WhatsApp in case of any grievances.

Vagator club manager booked for playing loud music after 11pm
Now, Artificial Intelligence-Powered Robot To Save Lives On Goa Beaches
Ndtv | 3 months ago | |
Ndtv
3 months ago | |

Aurus is currently deployed at Miramar beach in North Goa. (File)Panaji: Aurus, an Artificial Intelligence-based self-driving robot, and AI-based monitoring system Triton are being used to augment life-saving capabilities on Goa's beaches, a state-appointed lifeguard services agency has said.The incorporation of AI-based support follows an increase in beach-related incidents due the rising number of domestic and foreign tourists on Goa's coastline, said a spokesperson from Drishti Marine.There have been more than 1,000 rescue incidents in the past two years along the coastal belt which required assistance from the agency's life savers, he said."Aurus is a self-driving robot" developed to assist lifesavers by patrolling extensive non-swim zones and alerting tourists during high tide. The new addition will help in increased surveillance and crowd management at the beaches, he said.Besides, the Triton system's primary focus is to provide a completely AI-based monitoring of non-swim zones, thereby alerting tourists of the danger and notifying the nearest lifesaver.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comAurus is currently deployed at Miramar beach in North Goa, while Triton is deployed at Baina, Velsao, Benaulim, Galgibag in South Goa and Morjim in North Goa, an official from the agency said, adding they intend to deploy 100 Triton units and 10 Aurus units on the state's beaches this year.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayIndian-American Girl In "World's Brightest" Students List, Scored Highest

Now, Artificial Intelligence-Powered Robot To Save Lives On Goa Beaches
Officials’ fight ends in police complaints
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Bicholim: An argument over BJP banners, which broke out between Sanquelim municipality chairperson Rajesh Sawal and chief officer Kabir Shirgaonkar, on Friday took an ugly turn with both filing complaints at the Bicholim police station. Sawal has claimed that Shirgaonkar pushed him. On the other hand, Shirgaonkar has filed a complaint stating that Sawal abused him.According to the information available, the controversy erupted over the banners for the BJP’s North Goa district executive meeting, which was held on Friday on the SMC premises. Banners were put up everywhere in Sakhali town as well as at the meeting venue.On Friday morning, Sawal allegedly called Shirgaonkar to his cabin and asked him to check if those who had put up the banners had legal permission. Sawal apparently also wanted a fee to be charged for putting up the banners.Two other municipal workers were present when this conversation was going on. Shirgaonkar said that he would conduct a survey of the banners. This led to an argument between the two. Sawal allegedly told him that they have to be responsible citizens and officers, and not ‘act like party activists’.Sawal stated that as soon as he said that the revenue of the municipality should not be lost, Shirgaonkar became aggressive and pushed him.Bicholim police are further investigating the matter. Last month, Sawal had criticised the decision of Shirgaonkar to deny permission for a Save Mhadei meeting in Sanquelim.

Officials’ fight ends in police complaints
Woman accuses ‘cop’ of assault, approaches North Goa SP
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: A woman has approached the North Goa superintendent of police (SP), requesting him to take action against a policeman who had allegedly grievously assaulted her and outraged her modesty.A 55-year-old woman from Tiswadi said in her complaint that she was standing at the Mapusa bus stand last month when a man began to accost her. She said he abused her and demanded to know if she was a prostitute.“Before I could respond, he started hitting me with a stick and abusing me in public. I begged him not to beat me,” she said. “But he continued beating me till I started bleeding from my right hand. At that stage, he went away.”The woman said that her friend took her to North Goa District Hospital. “At the hospital, I was bleeding profusely and the doctor enquired about my injury. I narrated my ordeal,” she said. “The doctor on duty then informed the police. I needed nine stitches for my wound.”The woman said that at the Mapusa police station, the officer on duty refused to note the details of the policeman who had assaulted her. She stated that the officer told her the person might have been a municipality staffer.The woman added: “I have the photo of the accused and have checked with mysources. They have confirmed that he is a policeman,” the woman said. “Yet, his name has not been mentioned in the complaint, nor has any action been taken against him.”

Woman accuses ‘cop’ of assault, approaches North Goa SP
13 yrs later, court acquits man in drugs case due to lapses in probe
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: More than 13 years after a Kashmiri man was arrested for allegedly in possession of 50g of heroin, a North Goa court has acquitted him for benefit of doubt after it found that the seizure and panchanama itself to be in doubt. The accused, Gulzar Ahmed Khan, only converses in Hindi, but the panchanama didn’t state that the document was read and explained to the accused in Hindi, the court observed. “Even if the panchanama was written in English, it had to be read over and explained to the accused in Hindi which was the language known to him, a process which was not followed in the present case. Hence, the panchanama itself is in doubt,” stated additional sessions judge, Mapusa, Kshama Joshi.The court also found that there was no mention of seizure made from the accused in the panchanama and no mention of the panchanama and the seizure report being handed to the accused.The case of the prosecution was that the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) conducted a raid on November 26, 2009 after it received information that the alleged drug dealer, male Kashmiri person, aged around 40-50 years, of strong built would be coming to deliver heroin to a prospective customer at Prias waddo, Anjuna.Advocate K Poulekar, representing the accused, stated that the investigating officer didn’t fulfil all procedural safeguards as there are clear violations of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act where the accused was not informed about the grounds of arrest, and the panchanama doesn’t disclose any reason for his arrest.The lack of evidence that the drugs allegedly seized was given to the officer in-charge, vitiates the seizure of the drug, he added.

13 yrs later, court acquits man in drugs case due to lapses in probe
Man cheats investors of Rs 100 crore across India, held
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

PANAJI: Old Goa police on Monday apprehended Eric Henry Vaz, 37, who allegedly cheated many persons of Rs 100 crore across the country, said North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan on Monday.Valsan said that Vaz is wanted in a cheating case registered at Golabari police station (Kolkata) and in other offences registered at Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Uttar Pradesh and other places for alleged fraud of over Rs 100 crore.“In the present case at Golabari, the accused is the sole proprietor of a firm named Gold Hill and was trading of coal and forex. Vaz invited investments from the public and he was entrusted with their funds, misappropriated the money. He cheated investors of over Rs 7 crore at Howrah, Kolkata, alone,” Valsan said.

Man cheats investors of Rs 100 crore across India, held
Restaurant in CRZ at Calangute razed
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

CALANGUTE: A restaurant constructed in the CRZ no-development zone at the Calangute beach entrance was demolished on Monday.The restaurant next to Souza Lobo restaurant was demolished by the North Goa district demolition squad following a complaint lodged by the Calangute panchayat with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and other authorities a few years ago.The restaurant was illegally constructed in the no-development zone by flouting CRZ rules, said Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira. The demolition started around 10am on Monday in the presence of the block development officer, Mapusa, and other officials, including a large number of policemen. Most of the construction in the 134sqm property was demolished by afternoon.

Restaurant in CRZ at Calangute razed
Goa Police and Child Rights Commission organised training for PSIs on restorative care and justice for POCSO victims
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

The Office of Superintendent of Police (Training) and Child Rights Commission launched a series of training for Police Sub Inspectors at GO’s Training Hall in presence of Sanjith Rodrigues, Secretary, GSCPCR, Sucheta B. Dessai, SP (Training), Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, GSCPCR and Child Welfare Committee, North Goa, and South Goa. The training will reach out to more than 260 PSIs from 19-24th January 2023. Sexual crimes against children have captured the stage fraor quite some time now with Goa too has witnessing a surge in the recent times. Very low conviction rate exists in the state with several POCSO cases ending in acquittals. There exists also a grim reality of a gross failure to support and rehabilitate the victims and their families in terms of victim compensation too. As a result of this, there are instances of victims and their families turning hostile, stop cooperating and loosing hope, said Sanjith Rodrigues, Secretary, GSCPCR and Special Secretary, Home The training revolved around need for convergence between police and child protection system to ensure adequate support services for children as provided in POCSO Rules 2020.While it is important to secure punishment for the perpetrator, focus should also be laid on restorative care and justice, said Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, who led the training and called for multi-disciplinary approach on linking POCSO victims to the child protection system. He further stressed the need for curbing re-victimization which happens in the justice system process. Several factors and practices existing in the system makes the victim re-live the horrific experience, leading to further trauma due to their vulnerability. Esther Torres, Chairperson, CWC, North Goa, also highlighted the need to introspect and keep aside the persona biases which exist while handling the cases of child abuse. Adv. Viren Bhende, Member, CWC South Goa also spoke on the need for coordinated approach.

Goa Police and Child Rights Commission organised training for PSIs on restorative care and justice for POCSO victims
Goa welcomed the year with music, fireworks and dancing
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Goa welcomed 2023 with great pomp, music, dancing, and lots of fun. With fireworks lighting up the sky at the stroke of midnight, the vibe was just right for locals and tourists to welcome the new year, at parties across the state. Nisha Vaz, who organised a party at a Bogmalo venue said, “It was an absolute pleasure planning and curating the homegrown event; we collaborated with some of the best brands and DJs from across Goa. With the theme “enchanted sunrise’, guests could dance the night away and then experience a beautiful sunrise overlooking the ocean. The party was a success with the venue packed to full capacity with over 1,000 guests. ”The North Goa Beach belt too was teeming with party hoppers, like Valerie Fernandes, from Siolim. “We visited many clubs around Vagator, and the music, especially EDM, was great. Actor Arjun Rampal performed at a venue and it was just amazing. We spotted other actors too at other parties. I also loved the fireworks, which lasted for around 20-25 minutes post midnight,” says Valerie

Goa welcomed the year with music, fireworks and dancing
Will Fight Legally And Politically For Mahadayi River Issue: Goa Chief Minister
Ndtv | 4 months ago | |
Ndtv
4 months ago | |

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said the coastal state will win the battle for the Mahadayi river water as his government is making efforts on legal, technical and political fronts and leaving no stone unturned.Goa and Karnataka are at loggerheads over diversion of the Mahadayi water through the construction of dams by Karnataka on the river's tributaries Kalasa and Banduri.The Central Water Commission recently approved a detailed project report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka for the construction of the two dams, to which the Goa government has objected.The Goa government has contended that Karnataka cannot divert water from the Mahadayi river, as it passes through the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located downstream in North Goa.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com“Whoever may say anything, we are firm on our decision. Whatever we have to do for Mahadayi, we are doing it legally, technically and politically. We will do whatever is required and we are confident that we will win the battle," Mr Sawant said on Tuesday.He was reacting to a purported statement of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on a resolution by the Goa Assembly against the Mahadayi river water diversion.Featured Video Of The DayWatch: Haryana Chief Minister Showcases His Bike Riding Skills

Will Fight Legally And Politically For Mahadayi River Issue: Goa Chief Minister
Fire services return to Pilerne factory to contain fresh fumes
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: A week after a huge fire erupted at the Berger Becker Coatings factory at Pilerne Industrial Estate, the fire and emergency services was called in yet again to contain fumes emanating from the same spot. Fire and emergency services were able to control the fumes and said there was no fire emanating from the site. To prevent any further incident, the department has stationed one fire tender at the spot from Tuesday to attend to any eventualities. The smoke began emanating after some chemicals came into contact with burnt residual particles of the fire while people were clearing out the factory. The huge inferno that began on January 10 was the largest fire Goa has seen and required reinforcements from several other fire stations and assistance from the Army, Navy, Mormugao Port Authority with the police and all line departments roped in to control the disaster. Over 12 lakh litres of water and 5,000 litres of foam were used to control the blaze that engulfed the paint factory as the fire fed on chemicals, solvents and paints stored at the Berger Becker Coatings factory at the industrial estate and took more than 24 hours to put out. The fumes cast black clouds over several parts of North Goa forcing neighbouring villagers to evacuate.

Fire services return to Pilerne factory to contain fresh fumes
Designer held after her car hits bike, kills Taleigao man
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: A 45-year-old Taleigao resident was killed on Sunday night after a head-on collision between his bike and a four-wheeler at Caranzalem. Police arrested interior designer Arpita Goel, resident of Dona Paula, for allegedly driving her vehicle in a rash and negligent manner. She was later released on bail.The accident took place at 9pm. Khan, who was in the catering business, was going towards Caranzalem when he was hit by Goel’s car coming from Caranzalem to Taleigao. After the collision, Khan was shifted to GMC, where he was declared ‘brought dead’.Panaji police registered a first information report (FIR) against Goel for rash and negligent driving under Section 304 (A), 279, and 337 of the IPC. Police said that an alcohol test was conducted on her at the North Goa district hospital, and a blood report is awaited. Police said that Khan’s post-mortem examination was conducted and the body has been handed over to his family for final rites.Police sub-inspector Sanket Pokhare is investigating the case.

Designer held after her car hits bike, kills Taleigao man
Man, minor son and daughter found dead in Goa
The Indian Express | 4 months ago | |
The Indian Express
4 months ago | |

Two minor children were found dead at home while their father was later found hanging from a tree behind the house in North Goa district, police said on Sunday.Prime facie, it seems the man strangulated the children to death and then killed himself, Superintendent of Police (North) Nidhin Valsan told reporters.The bodies of the minor boy aged 14 and his eight-year-old sister were found in their house in Candolim village on Saturday night. Their mother was not at home when the children died, he said.“When the children did not open the door of the house, their mother opened it forcibly with the help of neighbours and found the children dead,” he said.The police received a call at around 10.30 pm on Saturday about the incident.The Calangute police then started searching for the children’s father who was untraceable since the kids were found dead, the official said.On Sunday morning, the man’s body was found hanging from a tree behind their house, Valsan said.The man was in his late 40s, another official said.“Prime facie, it looks like the father strangulated both the children to death and then killed himself,” Valsan said. An investigation is on into the incident, he added.

Man, minor son and daughter found dead in Goa
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