log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2026 GOA Trump tariffs, US markets, crude oil and IPOs to guide sentiment IN SHORT >> Several judicial officers transferred PANAJI: The Bombay High Court has issued proposed Annual General Transfers 2026 for 17 judicial officers in Goa. All district judges remain in current posts, while civil judges (senior and junior divisions) are transferred across Margao, Mapusa, Merces, Vasco, Sattari, Ponda, Pernem and Canacona. It has set June 8 as joining deadline. Govt widens NEP implementation PANAJI: The government has announced the expansion of NEP implementation from 2026–27, extending its coverage to Classes I, II, IV, V, VII and VIII. With this move, the policy will span the Balvatika, preparatory and middle stages, and partially the secondary level.  >> See pg 3 Budget session: BAC meeting on Feb 25 PANAJI: A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee is scheduled to be held on February 25 to finalise the schedule for the forthcoming Budget Session. The 14-day Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly will be held from March 6 to March 27. Drone attacks: Russia shuts four airports MOSCOW: All four international airports of the Russian capital were closed due to safety concerns on Sunday until further notice as air defence forces shot down 11 Ukrainian drones. The Russian civil aviation agency said air traffic restrictions have been imposed at all four international airports. Armed man near Trump’s resort killed WASHINGTON: An armed man drove into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before being shot and killed early Sunday. WEATHER >> Max: 35.5 C Min: 23.3 C Humidity: 89% TIDES Low: High: 08:37 20:38 01:47 15:28 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 246 5 years after demolition, Monte Hill encroachments make a comeback >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 3 GOA Thousands take part in walking pilgrimage to Sancoale INFO Women have a higher risk of knee injuries than men 9 n HUNDREDS STORM AZAD MAIDAN, SEEK REPEAL OF SEC 39A n ACTION SOUGHT AGAINST COPS WHO MANHANDLED BORKAR THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The protest against Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act  escalated on  Sunday, with protesters and Opposition MLAs from across the State joining the villagers of Siridao-Palem and St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar at the iconic Azad Maidan in Panaji to demand repeal of the controversial provision. Section 39A permits landuse zoning conversions, including farmland, private forests, and nodevelopment slopes and is currently being resorted to by the government to facilitate large-scale development for real estate.  On Sunday, the agitation at Azad Maidan drew leaders from across the opposition spectrum. Congress legislative leader Yuri Alemao, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas, Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief and MLA Vijay Sardesai, Revolutionary Protesters give call for ‘Maha Andolan’ today A section of the crowd at the protest meeting at Azad Maidan, Panaji on Sunday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Goans Party chief Manoj Parab,  and State Congress president Amit Patkar stood in support of the protest. The meeting demanded repeal of Section 39A and suspension of the police officers and personnel who dragged RGP MLA Viresh Borkar out of the protest site at the TCP headquarters on Saturday.  State gears up for census drive; staff training kicks off PANAJI More than 3,100 enumerators, supervisors, charge officers and support staff across Goa will undergo intensive training ahead of the first phase of the Census, scheduled to commence on April 16. The exercise -- the first Census in 16 years -- will be conducted in two phases: the House-listing and Housing Census in 2026, followed by Population Enumeration in early 2027. The State government has notified the month-long house-listing operation from April 16 to May 15. So far, 56 Charge Officers and District Officers have been trained by the Directorate of Census Operations (DCO) and Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation. Speaking to The Goan, Deputy Director of DCO Goa, Sweta Nandwana, said the two-day training earlier this month covered key aspects of Woman cop back from deportation duty in Mumbai dies suddenly THE GOAN I NETWORK census procedures. Around 52 clerks and technical assistants will undergo training next week. “Subsequently, six State-level master trainers will be trained in March. They will train 50 field trainers, who in turn will train around 3,000 enumerators and supervisors in April,” she explained. The training programme aims to equip officials with a MAPUSA A 35-year-old woman police staff attached to the Detention Centre in Mapusa was declared brought dead at the North Goa District Hospital in the early hours of Sunday after she reportedly complained of giddiness near Tivim railway station. The deceased has been identified as Sarika Naik, a resident of Guirim. Police said she was serving as a Lady Assistant Sub-Inspector attached to the Detention Centre in Mapusa. As per preliminary inquiry, Naik had travelled to Mumbai along with other staff members on deportation duty to escort a Nigerian national. After completing the deportation formalities, the team returned to Goa by train on February 21 and alighted at Tivim railway station. Police said that after getting down, the staff hired a taxi to proceed to their office. However, when they reached the junction bus stop near Tivim railway station, >Continued on P7 >Continued on P7 2-PHASE EXERCISE FROM APRIL 16 THE GOAN I NETWORK Borkar, who had launched a hunger strike since then, vowed to continue it until the government concedes the demands even as the administration stationed an ambulance at the Azad Maidan to monitor his condition and shift him to hospital in case of emergency. Town and Country Plan- CENSUS: THE ROAD AHEAD „„56 Charge Officers & District Officers already trained; 52 clerks, tech assistants next in line „„6 master trainers, 50 field trainers, 3,000 enumerators and supervisors by April „„Phase I to cover 33 questions via digital platforms Youth-centric drug network under ANC lens PANAJI A kilogram of ganja smuggled into Goa, an indoor cultivation unit operating behind the doors of a residential flat, and a location uncomfortably close to an institute and a bustling mall – the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) believes the operation was anything but casual. ANC sleuths suspect that students of the institute and young visitors to the nearby shopping mall may have been the intended market of a cannabis supply racket run out of a rented apartment in Alto Porvorim. During a midnight raid earlier this week, the ANC arrest- RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Panaji erupts over cries to save land, protest swells SMUGGLED GANJA, SECRET CULTIVATION IN FLAT NEAR CAMPUS… THE GOAN I NETWORK Instagram.com/thegoanonline SECRET DRUG DEN „„Accused had rented an apartment in Porvorim „„Suspected cannabis supply racket targeted students, mall visitors „„Illegal indoor cannabis cultivation setup found inside the flat „„About 1 kg of ganja was recently smuggled into Goa „„Police suspect a growing local drug demand network „„Location near institute, shopping mall under scrutiny ed three men -- Vedant Deshpande of Sambajinagar and Mayur Kolhe of Nagpur, both in Maharashtra, and Mustafa Motiwala of Porvorim. Officers said they uncovered an illegal indoor cannabis cultivation setup inside the flat, which is owned by a family currently settled abroad. Police sources revealed to The Goan that one kg of ganja had recently been smuggled into the State “to cater to the growing local demand network.” The flat’s proximity to >Continued on P7 Youth nabbed with ganja worth nearly `  lakh at Mapusa 8 PANAJI: The Anti-Narcotics Cell, Goa conducted a raid at the Mapusa yard parking area and apprehended a 25-year-old man for allegedly possessing hydroponic cannabis (ganja). The accused, Anirudh Bhogle (25), of Vashi, was found in possession of 224 grams of the contraband. The seized substance is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 7.84 lakh. PANAJI: Amid growing opposition to controversial land conversions, protesters have announced a large-scale agitation seeking policy change. Opposing the use of Section 39A of the TCP Act, activists have called for a ‘Maha Andolan’ demanding that the provision be scrapped. The protest is scheduled to be held at Azad Maidan on February 23 at 4 pm, with organisers aiming to mobilise between 4,000 and 5,000 participants. ning Minister Vishwajit Rane reported claim  that he could mobilize 45,000 people from Sattari to Panaji added fuel to the protest fire.  Opposition leaders hit back, pointing out that Goa’s population is 1.5 million. “Fortyfive thousand is just three percent. The minister should face the remaining 97 percent,” Congress’ Patkar said. Alemao warned that if the government fails to suspend the policemen and also repeal section 39A of the TCP Act, a “jail-bharo protest” will follow. The agitation has also sparked a wider political debate. AAP’s Viegas called for an opposition alliance in the 2027 elections to “save Goa.”  He said parties unwilling to join would be persuaded if the necessity arises. Sardesai took a cautious stance on the legality of Section 39A saying it is already before the courts.  “The court will decide. But immediate action on the regional plan is needed,” he >Continued on P7 SPORTS South Africa serves India a reality check 12 Dark clouds gather over ‘Aarti Ghat’ project at Naroa CUMBHARJUA MLA JOINS PROTESTERS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Concerns are brewing among residents from Naroa in Bicholim and the nearby villages of Divar, Akhada and Vanxim over the proposed Aarti Ghat project encroaching upon land they long used as a Hindu crematorium and holds religious significance. On Sunday, several residents from Divar, Naroa, Akhada, Vanxim and nearby areas gathered at the site to stage a protest where they said that the land holds deep religious and cultural significance for them and must remain undisturbed. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Phaldessai also joined the protesters and backed their demand to halt the project.  He said that the crematorium is over 200 years old and some vested interests are trying to usurp the land warning if there is no solution within three days, the protest will be escalated. The protesting villagers meanwhile, said that their concerns are not only about the land but their heritage. FAITH V/S PROJECT „„Residents of Naroa, Divar, Akhada and Vanxim are protesting the proposed Aarti Ghat project, fearing it will encroach on land traditionally used as a Hindu crematorium. They stress the site’s deep religious and cultural importance and demand it remain untouched “We are not against development but it should not be at the cost of our religious and cultural sentiments,” one of the protesters said. The project is to be undertaken by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), and is estimated to cost over Rs 10 crore. It is part of the State government’s push for ‘Spiritual Tourism’.  It is spread across nearly 20,000 square metres of land and includes plans for temporary riverside structures to host the Ghat Aarti, a floating jetty, puja mandap, platform, ticket booth and seating >Continued on P7