log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday THURSDAY MAY 26, 2022 12 pages PRICE ` 6 Why is India’s book market struggling? IN SHORT >> AFTER MARGAO, DAYLIGHT THEFT IN SHIRODA PANAJI: In yet another case of broad daylight burglary, burglars decamped with gold and cash worth Rs 20.5 lakh in broad day light by breaking open into an apartment in a residential colony at Shiroda.  >> See pg 5 Ramesh Verma is Goa’s new CEO PANAJI: IAS Ramesh Verma has been appointed as Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) of Goa. He will also hold charge as Secretary, Elections. The post of CEO was vacant since former CEO Kunal was relieved after assembly elections. 12% funds in depts for tribal welfare: CM PANAJI: Finance department has been directed to ensure that 12 per cent funds in every department such as education, PWD, WRD are mandatorily spent on tribal welfare, informed CM Pramod Sawant on Wednesday. Sibal says he is no more Congressman NEW DELHI: Former Union Minister Kapil Sibal revealed Wednesday that he has quit the Congress party, dropping a bombshell moments after filing his nomination papers for Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate supported by the Samajwadi Party.   >> See pg 6 Gyanvapi case now in fast-track court VARANASI: A district court here on Wednesday transferred a petition seeking permission to worship a “Shivling” claimed to have been found in the Gyanvapi complex during a videography survey to a fast-track court for hearing on May 30.  >> See pg 6 Indian Army gets first woman combat aviator NEW DELHI: Captain Abhilasha Barak on Wednesday became the first woman combat aviator of the Indian Army. She has been awarded the coveted ‘wings’ along with 36 Army pilots at a ceremony held in Nashik. >> See pg 6 North Korea fires ballistic missile SEOUL: North Korea fired three missiles on Wednesday, including one thought to be its largest intercontinental ballistic missile. >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 36.5 C Min: 25.4 C Humidity: 91% TIDES Low: High: 02.17 14.03 08.47 20.11 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VII, NO. 338 2 GOA 8 The Goan (Playstore) Shacks close for season on loss-making note Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 GOA Dengue alarm: Cases spike at several places in State 3 Gunman kills 19 children, 2 teachers at Texas school 18-YR-OLD SHOOTER KILLED; BIDEN VOWS TO ACT ON GUN LAWS MAKING HIS KILLER INTENT KNOWN AGENCIES UVALDE, US A teenage gunman killed at least 19 young children and two adults at an elementary school in Texas on Tuesday, prompting a furious President Joe Biden to denounce the US gun lobby and vow to end the nation’s cycle of mass shootings. The attack in Uvalde -- a small community about an hour from the Mexican border -- was the deadliest US school shooting in years, and the latest in a spree of bloody gun violence across America. “It’s time to turn this pain into action for every parent, for every citizen of this country,” Biden said, his voice heavy with emotion. “It’s time for those who obstruct or delay or block commonsense gun laws -- we need to let you know that we will not forget,” he said. „„Hours before he opened fire, the 18-year-old shooter had sent a cryptic message, ‘I’m about to’, to a stranger on Instagram „„He was using an account with the username “salv8dor_”, which was taken down shortly after that shooter was identified as Salvador Ramos „„The teenager is suspected of shooting his grandmother before the rampage „„It was the shooter’s 18th birthday Relatives of children at the school gathered at a nearby civic centre to wait for news. “As a nation, we have to ask when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?” Texas Governor Greg Abbott, addressing an earlier news conference, named the suspect as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old local resident and a US citizen. “He shot and killed, horrifically and incomprehensibly,” Abbott said. Texas Department of Public Safety officials told CNN the gunman is believed to have shot his grandmother before heading to Robb Elementary School around noon where he abandoned his vehicle and entered with a handgun and a rifle, wearing body armor. The gunman was killed by responding officers, the officials said, adding later two adults also died in the attack. Footage showed small groups of children weaving through parked cars and yellow buses, some holding hands as they fled under police escort from the school, which teaches students aged around seven to 10 years old. It was the deadliest such incident since the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, in which 20 children and six staff were killed. The White House ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in mourning for the victims -- whose deaths sent a wave of shock through a country still scarred by the horror of Sandy Hook.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Robb Elementary -- which teaches more than 500, mostly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students -- called on parents not to rush in to get their children. SPORTS IPL: Patidar slams ton as RCB defeat Lucknow Giants in close contest 12 Govt for VP polls after rains, sends proposal to SEC THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has proposed that the panchayat elections, due to be held in June, be deferred by three months due to the impending monsoon and also to permit the government to complete the process of reservation of wards for OBCs as per the ‘triple test’ guideline laid down by the Supreme Court. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government has sent the file to the State Election Commission (SEC) with the proposal which also includes appointing administrators for the 180-odd village bodies in the interim period between the date their terms expire and the elections are eventually held. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an official function in the capital, Sawant said the final decision as to the timing of the polls will be taken by the SEC. The conduct of the panchayat elections in Goa, CM: Pursuing ST reservations with Centre PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the State government was regularly pursuing the issue of political reservations for the Scheduled Tribe community with the Central government and the Election Commission of India.  >> See pg 3 which should have ordinarily been held in June so that the representatives so elected take charge before the term of the current bodies expires in June-end, has been hanging fire for over a month. Soon after taking charge, the Pramod Sawant-led government had announced that the polls will be held on schedule. >Continued on P5 Yasin Malik gets life Truck runs over sr citizen at Major reshuffle, 32 for terror funding Chimbel, locals block road DySPs transferred AGENCIES NEW DELHI A Delhi court on Wednesday sentenced separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik, 56, to life imprisonment a week after he pleaded guilty and was convicted of terror funding, spreading terrorism, and secessionist activities in the Valley in 2017. Malik faced charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Indian Penal Code sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition). Malik on May 10 pleaded guilty to all charges after they were framed in March. He told the court he would not challenge any of the charges. The case against Yasin Malik pertained to the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and other separatist leaders’ conspiracy to raise, receive and collect funds domestically and from abroad for the separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said its probe into the case established Malik was involved in terror activities and issued calls for protests, roadblocks, and other disruptive activities to push the society into cha- Relent after assurance of installing speed breaker SENTENCED os and lawlessness. In 2017, NIA registered the case and has since filed a charge sheet against over a dozen people. The trial against the remaining accused in the case will continue as they have pleaded not guilty. Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case. Malik worked as Salahuddin’s polling agent in the 1987 elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Allegations of fraud that marred the polls have been blamed among the reasons for sparking insurgency in the region. JKLF and Hizbul Mujahideen spearheaded insurgency in the Valley in the late 1980s. JKLF renounced violence in the mid-1990s and Malik spent years in prison. Malik, who has undergone the aortic valve replacement, suffers from multiple ailments. Women protest at the Chimbel junction demanding suitable measures to avoid fatal accidents at the spot in future.  Manuel Vaz THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA Furious locals blocked the road twice at the dreaded Chimbel junction in protest after a senior citizen was fatally knocked down by a lorry as he was crossing the road on Wednesday. The incident occurred late evening when Venkatesh Karapurkar was crossing the road to go home. The lorry ran over Karapurkar killing him on the spot. After the incident, the Old Goa police arrived on the spot, conducted the panchanama and sent the body to the GMC. However, agitated by the death of the elderly citizen, villagers blocked the road demanding the authorities concerned to give them concrete assurance on resolving the issue of the dangerous junction. The locals also gave half an hour for the authorities to assure them. When the senior officials failed to turn up, the locals blocked the road a second time. After an assurance by Tiswadi Mamlatdar and PWD officials that a speed breaker would be installed and a meeting will be held on Thursday at 11 am, locals agreed to allow the traffic to continue. St Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes said all officials would attend the meeting and a decision would be taken on the overbridge. “Also, an alternate road will be built through the area where a house was demolished for the same,” Fernandes added. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major shake-up, the Goa police department has transferred as many as 32 police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySPs) including half a dozen who were posted as sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Pernem, Canacona and Ponda. The long-pending order has also finally given postings and work to at least a dozen DySPs who were for several months “awaiting posting”. The order was issued on Wednesday by Superintendent of Police (SP) Headquarters, Gaurish Prabhudesai, on the recommendation of the Police Establishment Board. DySP Sudesh Naik, who hitherto was SDPO in Pernem, has been shifted to Panaji and his place in Pernem will be taken up by DySP Siddhant Shirodkar who was awaiting posting. Mapusa will have DySP Jivba Dalvi as SDPO, who replaces Uday Parab, now shifted as DySP at GRP (D-Coy). Rajesh Kumar, who was awaiting posting will now head the police sub-division of Vasco and another officer who was awaiting posting Nilesh Rane LONG-PENDING „„The long-pending order has also finally given postings and work to at least a dozen DySPs who were for several months "awaiting posting „„The order was issued on Wednesday by Superintendent of Police (SP) Headquarters, Gaurish Prabhudesai, on the recommendation of the Police Establishment Board takes over as SDPO in Quepem. Yet another officer ‘awaiting posting’ Nutan Vernekar has been posted as head of the foreigner’s branch and Nerlon Albuquerque again awaiting posting will now head the AntiNarcotics Cell. The order also gives postings to 15 more officers who were awaiting posting -- Braz Menezes {DySP (HQ/North)}, Francis Corte {DySP (EOC with additional charge of Control Room)}, Rajan Nigale {DySP (ATS)}, Wilson D’Souza {DySP(Motor Transport)}, Rupendra Shetgaonkar {DySP (GRP ‘D’ & ‘E’ Coy and Armoury)}, Gurudas Kadam >Continued on P5 PAN, Aadhaar must for ₹20 GU mulls logistics course citing Mopa jobs for Goans lakh or more transaction THE GOAN I NETWORK AGENCIES NEW DELHI The cash withdrawal and deposit system in India are in for a change from Thursday, May 26. The Centre has now made it compulsory for citizens to quote his or her PAN (permanent account number) or Aadhaar number, for withdrawing or depositing cash more than Rs 20 lakh from the bank accounts, including co-operative banks and post offices, in one financial year. These rules will also apply during the opening of a current account, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has said in a notification earlier this month. “Every person shall, at the time of entering into a transaction specified in column (2) of the Table below, quote his permanent account number or Aadhaar number, as the case may be, in documents pertaining to such transaction, and every person specified in column (3) of the said Table, who receives such doc- ument, shall ensure that the said number has been duly quoted and authenticated,” the CBDT said in its notice dated May 10. The columns 2 and 3 mention where the rules will be applicable, and how the persons who receive these PAN and Aadhaar numbers must ensure that they are authenticated. Earlier PAN card was only required at the time of deposit cash exceeding Rs 50,000 in single day, but no annual limit for cash deposit or withdrawal was covered as per Rule 114 B. Apart from this, the limit was applicable only on deposit made in bank. MARGAO oa University Vice-Chancellor Prof Hiralal B Menon on Wednesday made a fervent plea to the parents of Goan students not to make their wards frogs in the well, but strengthen their wings and make them fly. Menon said this as he unveiled plans to roll out the National Education Policy at the university, including a sandwich model of education, double degree and academic bank credit concept. He also announced plans to start a course relating to logistics at the BBA level so that students are better equipped to take up jobs at the Mopa airport which is expected to be commissioned soon. G CREDIT TRANSFER OPTION „„As a prelude to the introduction of the National Education Policy, the Goa University has come out with an Ordinance for an Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) „„The concept will enable a first-year student to get her credit transferred to the university or college in another state without having to undergo the course again “I have found that parents want their children to be in Goa. My request is please don’t try to make them frogs. Rather give them everything, strengthen their wings, let them fly”, he said, while addressing students at the graduation day of the Rosary College, Navelim, held at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on Wednesday. The GU Vice-chancellor said as a prelude to the introduction of the National Education Policy, the Goa University has come out with an Ordinance for an Academic Bank of Credit (ABC). He said the concept will enable a first-year student in Rosary College, Navelim, to get her credit transferred to the University or college in another state without having to undergo the course again. Saying the NEP has envisaged a number of flexible provisions, Prof Menon said the GU will introduce the sandwich model, wherein students from Goa will be able to study one year in Goa and another year abroad. In this respect, he said, he was in Singapore last week to discuss the modalities with the Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore, which is ranked 7th in the world. “The National University of Singapore is eager to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Goa University, wherein students from Goa will be able to study in Singapore as well as in Goa. Depending on the number of credits, the students will either get the certificate from here or from Singapore,” he added. On double degree education, Prof Menon said the GU will soon go in for it wherein the students will have the facility to study two subjects at a time. Saying that teachers play a big responsibility in shaping the careers of the students, the GU Vice-Chancellor underscored the need to equip teachers with the latest in education. In this respect, he said the Goa University has approached Faculty Induction Program wherein all the newly-joined faculty will undergo the program. Prof Menon said he is meeting with the college principals imparting the BBA course, as he unveiled his plans to introduce the logistics course in the >Continued on P5