log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2025 GOA PANAJI: In view of the inaugural parade of 56th International Film Festival of India, the State government has declared a half-day holiday for all government offices within the Panaji city limits on November 20. In a notification issued by the GAD, it is said that a halfday holiday is declared to avoid inconvenience to the general public, reduce traffic congestion and to facilitate smooth conduct of the parade and security arrangement. This year, IFFI will open with a vibrant float parade, instead of a traditional inaugural ceremony. IN SHORT >> Injured student made to wait at hospital MARGAO: South Goa District hospital was in the news again --- this time over the delay in making available a wheel chair to an injured student and staff insisting on hard copy of ID-card. The incident occurred when a teacher of a special school rushed to the hospital after a student was hurt when a bench fell on him. >> See pg 2 Housing Board plots: Govt eases stamp duty PANAJI: The Goa government issued an addendum exempting Goa Housing Board plot allottees from revised land-rate valuations. For registration and stamp duty, the Board’s original allotment rate—not current minimum land values—will apply when executing conveyance deeds under the Goa Housing Board Act, 1968. First charter from Poland lands at Mopa PANAJI: The first charter flight of the ongoing tourism season from Poland arrived at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, on Monday with the Enter Air flight, chartered by Rainbow Tours, landing at 9.05 am carrying 185 passengers.  >> See pg 5 MP youth nabbed in `4.68L scam BICHOLIM: A youth from Madhya Pradesh was arrested on charges of duping a man from Bicholim of Rs 4.68 lakh in connection with an investment scam. According to police reports, caller is alleged to have dishonestly induced Gore to make an investment with Kite Forex Trading company. >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 32.8 C 20.5 C 85% TIDES Low: 03.30 15.42 High: 08.57 22.40 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 151 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 10 Tragic bus-tanker accident in Saudi kills 42 Indian pilgrims A decade later, Margao's 'garden on steps' crumbling for lack of maintenance IFFI parade: Govt declares half day on November 20 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA Calangute police push stricter security to safeguard Goa’s busiest tourist belt INFO Nourishing Skin Elixirs: Remedies for all skin types 18 MEMBERS OF FAMILY ACROSS THREE GENERATIONS AMONG DEAD PTI NEW DELHI Forty-two Indian Umrah pilgrims from Telangana were among 44 people killed in a collision involving their bus and a fuel tanker near Madina in Saudi Arabia in the wee hours of Monday, people familiar with the matter said. It has been confirmed by local authorities that there is one Indian survivor and he is undergoing medical treatment, they said. It is learnt that two local facilitators on board the bus were also killed in the accident. Eighteen members of one family across three generations -- nine of them children -- are also among those killed. The Hyderabadbased family was to return on Saturday. The mortal remains of the deceased have been transferred to King Fahad Hospital, King Salman Hospital and Al Miqat Hospital, and officials from the Indian mission in Jeddah are coordinating with the local authorities to handle the situation, the people cited above said. “The families of the de- Mortal remains cannot be brought back to India? NEW DELHI: Efforts to bring the victims' bodies back to India are being blocked by Saudi regulations it was reported. According to long-standing rules if pilgrims die during a religious journey in Mecca, Medina, or anywhere else in Saudi Arabia, their bodies cannot be repatriated. HOW IT HAPPENED ceased will have an option after mortal remains have been identified for repatriation to India or a local burial at Jannatul Baqi (cemetery in Madinah) as per local customs,” an official said. The bus had stopped on the side of a road, and during this stoppage, an oil tanker collided with the bus, resulting in an explosion, they said. Saudi Authorities are cur- „„The bus was on its way from Mecca to Madina „„The accident took place at around 11 pm local time (1:30 am, IST) when it had stopped on the side of a road „„During this stoppage, an oil tanker rammed the bus, resulting in an explosion rently probing the circumstances that led to the mishap. The bus was learnt to be on its way from Mecca to Madina. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Min- ister S Jaishankar and other leaders conveyed condolences to the families. “Deeply saddened by the accident in Madina involving Indian nationals. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured,” Modi said on ''X''. “Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with Saudi Arabian authorities,” he said. Jaishankar, currently on a visit to Russia, expressed deep shock over the accident. “Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving the fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident,” he said. Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death NEW DELHI Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was on Monday sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal for “crimes against humanity” over her government's brutal crackdown on student-led protests last year. In its verdict that followed a months-long trial, the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) described the 78-year-old Awami League leader as the “mastermind and principal architect” of the violent repression that killed hundreds of protesters. It also handed the death sentence to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on similar charges. Hasina has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests. She was earlier declared a fugitive by the court. The verdict comes months before parliamentary elec- Bangla asks India to extradite them DHAKA: Bangladesh urged India to immediately extradite Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, hours after a special tribunal sentenced them to death. tions in Bangladesh. Hasina's Awami League party has been barred from contesting the elections scheduled to be held in February. 13 Ore e-auction nets `136 cr for State; 99% of stock sold THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Almost 99 per cent of the total 7.50 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore got sold during the 31st e-auction held last week, generating a whopping Rs 136.10 crore of revenue to the State treasury. According to the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), a total of 7.50 lakh MT was listed for bidding on November 13 and 14, out of which 7.48 lakh MT was purchased. The material, comprising fines, lumps, run-of-mine ore and tailings, was stored across several lease sites including Dharbandora, Codli, Mayem, Sirigao, Pale and Vagus. Director of Mines Narayan Gad confirmed that the auction drew a strong turnout, resulting in sales worth Rs 136 crore. Its was conducted via MSTC, the Central PSU that manages metal and mineral e-auctions. Major buyers included Sesa Resources, Chowgule & Company Ltd, Salgaocar Shipping, RKB Global, Venkateshwara Power, Ascent Ore, among others. As per the terms, bidders must remove the ore from its respective stockyard within 90 days of the DMG’s final award. Failure to do so will lead to forfeiture of both the ore and IRON BONANZA „„Auction conducted via MSTC, the Central PSU that manages metal and mineral e-auctions „„Bidders must remove purchased ore from respective stockyards within 90 days „„Failure to do so will lead to forfeiture of both ore and payment „„Material, comprising fines, lumps, run-of-mine ore and tailings, was stored across several lease the payment made. The previous e-auction -the 30th round held in October last year -- had also witnessed complete clearance of the 7.5 lakh MT offered. This series of auctions follows the Supreme Court’s August 2024 ruling permitting Goa to dispose of unaccounted iron ore abandoned at various sites. The State Cabinet subsequently authorised the auction of nearly 2 million MT. Of this, 7.56 lakh MT was put up in October last year, while another 7.50 lakh MT was offered in the latest auction. 1,371-PAGE DOCUMENT NAMES 8 ACCUSED Rigged tribunal, says Hasina NEW DELHI: Sentenced to death after a trial in absentia in Bangladesh, a defiant Sheikh Hasina charged that the judgement has been made by a “rigged tribunal” with no democratic mandate”. FIDE Chess World Cup: Arjun draws easy with black pieces Rama assault: Cops tighten net, file huge chargesheet FORMER HM KAMAL TOO GETS DEATH RAP PTI SPORTS THE GOAN I NETWORK SKETCHING HISTORY: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confers the Lifetime Achievement Award on veteran cartoonist Alexyz at the National Press Day event held at Institute Menezes Braganza, Panaji on Monday. (Report and more photos on page 5)  Narayan Pissurlenkar Brother-sister duo knocked down by speeding rent-a-car in Parra THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In yet another alarming instance of reckless behaviour by tourists, a rent-a-car Thar jeep allegedly driven rashly by a visitor rammed into a two-wheeler at Parra on Monday morning, seriously injuring a brother–sister duo. The driver fled the spot with the vehicle, highlighting once again the growing menace of irresponsible tourists on Goa’s roads. Police said the Thar was travelling from Calangute towards Mapusa when it collided with the two-wheeler heading towards Calangute. The impact threw the riders – 13-year-old Narendra Chavan, who was on his way to school, and his sister Nikita Chavan (21), who was heading to work in Baga – onto the road. Both suffered fractures and are undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim. >Continued on P8 PANAJI The Panaji police on Monday filed a chargesheet against history-sheeters Zenito Cardozo and seven others for attempted murder and related offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, in connection with the assault on activist Rama Kankonkar. The 1,371-page chargesheet was filed before the District and Sessions Court, with SP North Rahul Gupta stating that it has been filed within the mandatory 60-day period and it names eight arrested accused, all of whom are still in judicial custody. Police have cited 49 witnesses and attached 32 muddemal articles as evidence. An application has also been made before the court seeking permission to continue further investigation. The chargesheet has been THE CHARGESHEET „„Police have cited 49 witnesses „„Attached 32 muddemal articles as evidence „„Application also made before the court seeking permission to continue further investigation booked under Sections 126(1), 109, 351(3), 238, 111 r/w 3(5) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Sections 3(1)(a), 3(1)(r), 3(1) (s) and 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The incident occurred on September 18 when Kankonkar was reportedly assaulted by a gang outside a restaurant at Caranzalem. During the confrontation, he >Continued on P8 Oct unemployment rate ‘Seasonal’ permits fuelling permanent illegal structures on shores steady at 5.2%: Survey „„Owners apply for THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI The rate of unemployment for those aged 15 and above remained steady at 5.2% in October, according to a government survey. The unemployment rate (UR) was 5.2% in September, 5.1% in August, 5.2% in July and 5.6% in May and June, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The UR was 5.1 per cent in April as per the first PLFS bulletin released in May 2025. “The UR among persons of age 15 years and above re- mained unchanged at 5.2 per cent between September, 2025 and October, 2025,” an official statement said. According to the statement, a marginal decline in the rural unemployment rate, from 4.6 per cent in September 2025 to 4.4 per cent in October 2025, coupled with a moderate rise in urban UR from 6.8 per cent to 7.0 per cent, resulted in overall stability in the pace of joblessness among persons aged 15 years and above. It stated that UR among females aged 15 years and above declined to 5.4 per cent in October 2025 from 5.5 per cent observed during September 2025. MAPUSA brazen wave of illegal construction is sweeping across the State’s coastal belt, with several owners allegedly exploiting temporary permissions from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to erect full-fledged permanent structures right under the noses of authorities. What begins as an approval for seasonal wooden setups is increasingly transforming into concrete-and-steel establishments that defy coastal regulations and drastically alter the shoreline. Local residents across the Anjuna–Vagator–Candolim A temporary GCZMA HOW THE permissions meant for seaLICENCES sonal wooden ARE structures MISUSED „„Simple wooden shacks are then converted into full-fledged permanent structures of authorities, indicating „„Concrete, steel and weak enforcement other prohibited materials „„PIL shows multiple are used in No Developcases in Candolim where ment Zone temporary shack licences „„Constructions visibly are used to build permahappen “under the noses” nent structures belt say the pattern has become disturbingly common. “They get approval for a beach shack made of wood, „„Such actions drastically alter the coastline and undermine coastal protection laws „„Local activists highlight how temporary licences are routinely violated but within weeks you see cement mixers, steel rods and full-scale construction. Everyone knows what’s going on,” said Premanand Diukar, Founder President of Calangute Constituency Forum. The violations are becoming more audacious, with owners allegedly laying cement foundations and using heavy construction materials explicitly prohibited for temporary structures. Adding to the frustration, locals claim that violators frequently change the names of clubs or entities once caught, making accountability harder. “If authorities question them, they simply rebrand and continue operations. It’s a cat-and-mouse game where the mouse always wins,” remarked an Anjuna-based activist. One of the most alarming examples is a massive structure rising on an elevated slope barely 100 metres from Ozrant beach, sparking anxiety among residents who fear irreversible environmental damage. “A construction of this scale doesn’t just appear. Someone has looked away –and for a long time,” Jawish Moniz, a local resident alleged. Amid this growing outrage, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has stepped in, pulling up the GCZMA and the Candolim panchayat for failing to curb these violations in time. >Continued on P8