log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2025 GOA ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme challenged in HC PANAJI: Government officer and activist Kashinath Shetye has filed a petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the govt’s ‘Mhaje Ghar’ scheme, and the recent amendments made to the Comunidade laws which seeks to regularise illegal constructions. The High Court has admitted the petition and listed it for hearing on November 17.  >> See pg 2 CM casts doubt on coal protest PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant cast doubt on the timing and motive of the ‘Goyant Kollso Naka’ protest, suggesting it may be politically driven in the run-up to the elections even as he dismissed the renewed wave of protests. >> See pg 3 4 injured in group clash at Zuarinagar VASCO: Four persons were injured after a violent clash broke out between two groups at Zari, Zuarinagar, Sancoale, on Sunday. The incident, which occurred around 7.30 pm, reportedly began when barricades were placed across the road, blocking the passage of one group heading towards Yallaligeshwar Math. >> See pg 6 Porvorim flyover work on schedule: Minister PORVORIM: Stating that work on the elevated corridor in Porvorim is proceeding according to schedule, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has said the elevated corridor will be ready for use by August 2026. He also informed that work on the Porvorim Town Square is also being expedited and will ready by April 2026.  >> See pg 3 5 Indian nationals abducted in Mali BARNAKO: Five Indian nationals were abducted in Mali last week in an “unfortunate incident”, the Indian mission has said. The kidnapping took place on November 6 in the West African nation, the embassy said in a post on X. Achie   ers >> See pg 6 Turning pain into art: A Goan artist’s tribute of love WEATHER >> Max: 32.3 C Min: 21.1 C Humidity: 85% TIDES Low: High: 09:20 21:01 03:33 14:18 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 144 River Sal navigation dangers rise as training wall stalled at EC stage IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Autopsy reveals grim details in Saligao double murder case 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 10 INFO Home remedies for dry skin around the eyes SPORTS From Porvorim nets to World Cup glory: Jemimah’s Goa connection 15 DEADLY BLAST ROCKS DELHI, 8 KILLED n SLOW-MOVING CAR BURSTS INTO FLAMES AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL n 9 OTHER VEHICLES GUTTED n BODY PARTS SEEN SCATTERED PTI NEW DELHI A high-intensity explosion ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening, killing at least eight people and gutting several vehicles, officials said. Twenty-four people were injured in the blast that took place on a busy evening when the area was milling with people. The injured were taken to the LNJP hospital, a few kilometres away. According to a fire department official, six cars, two e-rickshaws and one autorickshaw were gutted in the fire. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said the car, in which the blast took place, had some occupants. According to a senior police officer, “The blast occurred in a moving Hyundai i20 car in which three people were sitting. We have not found any pellet or puncture in the body of the injured, which is unusual in a bomb blast. We are investigating all angles.” Police sources said the car was registered in the name of one Nadeem Khan and bore a Haryana number plate. A high alert has been sounded in Delhi, and security has been beefed up at city border points, with vehicle checking intensified. Police tighten security in Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK MANGLED METAL: A police personnel inspects charred vehicles at the blast site after an explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi on Monday. PANAJI In the wake of the Delhi blast that has claimed ten lives, the Goa Police have stepped up security measures across the State. Intensive checking and patrolling is currently underway. North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta said that alert levels have been heightened and all Police Inspectors have been directed to remain on the ground to ensure public safety. The move, he added, is a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. Panic gripped the area as fire billowed from burning cars following the explosion. Videos shared by the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association revealed the magnitude of the blast. A mangled body could be seen lying on a vehicle, while another clip showed a body on the road. Eyewitnesses said body parts could be seen scattered near the blast site. Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot as police lect evidence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took stock of the situation and expressed condolences over the deaths. No terror outfit has so far claimed responsibility. Police are scanning CCTV footage to determine the route of the vehicle before the blast occurred. They are questioning locals and asking eyewitnesses to share information about any suspicious activity in the lead-up to the incident. cordoned off the area, the Delhi Fire Services said. The blaze caused by the blast was brought under control by 7.29 pm, officials said. Golcha told reporters that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is being regularly briefed about the incident. “There was a blast around 6.52 pm in a slow-moving vehicle at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station. There were passengers inside the vehicle. Other vehicles got Mungul gang war: Chargesheet points to ‘pre-planned assault’ ACCUSED WERE ARMED WITH DEADLY WEAPONS, REVEALS 624-PAGE REPORT FILED IN COURT THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The chargesheet filed by the Fatorda police in the Mungul gang war case has stated that the accused persons had hatched a ‘pre-arranged plan’ to assault one Walter Fernandes in the wee hours of August 12 last. In the 624-page chargesheet, the Police said that in furtherance to the pre-arranged plan to assault Walter, the accused formed an unlawful assembly and armed themselves with deadly weapons -filled soda bottles, iron rods, hammers, choppers, swords, knives, axe and a firearm. Believing that Walter Fernandes was travelling in the Baleno car owned by the complainant, Yuvkesh Singh Badaila, the accused persons A-1 to A-25 wrongfully restrained the vehicle in front of Bab Bakery, near Sagun Restau- SRINAGAR Eight people, including three doctors, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a white collar terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Monday. Among those arrested following a 15-day operation were Kashmir’s Dr Muzammil Ganaie in Faridabad and Lucknow’s Dr Shaheen who was brought by air to Srinagar for custodial interrogation, officials said. An AK-47 rifle was found in her car. The joint operation by the police forces of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well as central agencies have achieved a major breakthrough, officials said. The 2,900 kg of explosive material includes ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur. Of this, 360 kg of inflammable material suspected to be ammonium nitrate and some arms and ammunition were recovered from Ganaie rented accommodation in Faridabad, said a statement from the Jammu and Kashmir police. The recoveries from various places include a Chinese Star pistol with ammunition, a Beretta pistol with ammunition, an AK 56 rifle, an AK Krinkov rifle with ammunition as well as explosives, chemicals, reagents, inflammable material etc. Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh on high alert NEW DELHI: Mumbai was put on high alert following the high-intensity explosion at a crowded area near the Red Fort in Delhi. Officials said security is being ramped up at important places in Maharashtra’s capital. High alert was sounded in pollbound Bihar as well. Police in all districts of Uttar Pradesh and Dehradun were also put on high alert. An order was issued from Lucknow to increase patrols and checks in sensitive areas. THE GOAN I NETWORK A-1 to A-26 brutally assaulted the complainant and his friend with the weapons, thereby voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 MARGAO: The chargesheet filed before the Margao criminal court on Monday came under scrutiny, as it was submitted without producing the accused persons in court. While the chargesheet was entered in the court registry on Monday, sources said the police have been directed to produce the accused before the court. For, most of the accused persons, baring one or two, are still in judicial custody. Their remand period, sources said, is expected to end only on November 14. However, since the accused are in custody and the police required to file a chargesheet within 90 days of the occurrence of the crime, sources said the Fatorda police has ensured that the chargesheet is filed right before the expiry of the period. PTI Police to verify names before summons in jobs scam: CM PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that any names disclosed by the jobsfor-cash prime accused, Pooja Naik, will first be verified by the Goa Police before summons are issued for interrogation. “Police will first inquire into the names provided by her. If anyone is found involved, they will be called for investigation. I will review the report from the police regarding the statement she gave to the Crime Branch on Sunday,” Sawant told reporters. He further said he has directed police to register a fresh FIR in view of Naik’s recent allegations. “A detailed investigation was done earlier as well. With fresh claims, I have asked the police to register a new FIR...” he said. Meanwhile, Minister Sudin Dhavalikar stated that if any minister, PWD official or IAS Chargesheet under scrutiny, filed without producing accused in court rant, Mungul, Fatorda, Salcete, Goa, using white Toyota Innova, a white Maruti Suzuki Fronx and a red Maruti Suzuki XL6. The chargesheet further stated that accused persons affected. All agencies -- Delhi Police, Forensic Science Laboratory, National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG) -- have arrived and they are taking stock of the situation,” he said. Shah spoke to the Delhi police chief and the director of the Intelligence Bureau to take stock of the situation. He directed the chiefs of the NSG, NIA and forensic sciences to send expert teams to the blast site to assist the probe and col- Terror module busted; 2,900 kg of explosives seized, eight arrested IFFI FERVOUR: Props being prepared at the Inox courtyard ahead of the IFFI inaugural. The 56th edition of the festival will commence from November 20.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Lights, camera, floats! IFFI to kick off with a lively parade THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday clarified that 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will open with a vibrant float parade on November 20, instead of traditional inaugural ceremony while dismissing the news about non-availability of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium for hosting the event due to ongoing FIDE Chess Olympiad. Addressing a press conference after reviewing the IFFI preparations, Sawant said that as requested by the IFFI organizers, the Goa government this time, decided to have a grand and vibrant float parade for IFFI inaugural from the Old Secretariat to Kala Academy, featuring total 26 floats including 11 from Goa. Sawant said that the Old >Continued on P9 Over 8,000 rain-hit farmers seek Yacht parking hub at Mormugao to set sail by 2027 govt compensation for crop loss DEPT BEGINS ASSESSMENT, GROUND VERIFICATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has received more than 8,000 applications from farmers seeking compensation for extensive crop losses caused by the recent spell of incessant rains. While the Agriculture Department has already initiated assessment of crop loss across all 12 talukas, it will now simultaneously undertake ground verification of these 8000 applications. According to  Director Agriculture Sandeep Foldessai, the heavy and prolonged rainfall led to significant damage to paddy and other seasonal crops across various talukas. In response, the department has initiated a detailed verification process to assess the extent of the damage reported by farmers. “Field officers have begun site inspections to verify the claims submitted under the crop loss compensation scheme. Verification of all 8,000 applications will be carried out to ensure genuine cases are covered,” he said. Simultaneously, Foldessai said that the department is conducting a broader assessment of the overall agricultural damage across the State to compile a comprehensive report for submission to the government. “It will take another one week to complete the assessment,” he said. Once verification and assessment are complete, eligible farmers will receive compensation as per Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi scheme. “Once we complete the assessment, the compensation process will >Continued on P9 VIKRAM NAYAK THE GOAN I VASCO G oa’s coastline is set to add a splash of luxury. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) is preparing to welcome not just cruise liners but also yachts — with a dedicated parking and service facility. According to sources, the ambitious project will come up within the premises of the upcoming world-class cruise terminal at Mormugao Port. The plan is simple yet game-changing — while Goa has long attracted global travellers, it has never truly catered to the growing class of private yacht owners and For representation purpose only charter operators looking for docking and other facilities. That gap, the MPA seems keen to fill. “We are already developing a world-class cruise terminal to enhance cruise tourism in the State,” a senior MPA official said. “This terminal will host both domestic and international cruise ships, boosting business and the local economy. Alongside this, we decided to provide a parking space for yachts — similar to a marina — within the port area. There’s been strong demand, and we saw an opportunity worth seizing.” The works for the yacht parking area have already be- gun, with completion expected by 2027. “All arrangements are in place. The space will offer parking and allied facilities for yachts used by high-end domestic and foreign tourists,” the source added. Importantly, the MPA clarified that this initiative should not be mistaken for the controversial marina project once proposed for Sancoale Bay. “This project is totally different. We are not building a marina — only a parking facility. The number of yachts that can be accommodated will depend on their size, as the space allotted is fixed,” the official explained. Once completed, the facility will be operated by a private agency selected through a ten- dering process. The operator will handle day-to-day management, including docking assistance, refuelling, and other logistical services. Port with a plan The move signals a broader shift in MPA’s strategy — from being just a cargo port to becoming a multifaceted gateway blending industry with leisure. The same terminal that will see massive cruise liners offloading thousands of tourists could soon have sleek, white yachts moored beside them. According to officials closely associated with the project, this facility could be a game >Continued on P9