log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2026 GOA How to save fuel while driving or riding as prices keep rising Kushaq levels up for 2026 with a gamechanging gearbox SEX SCANDAL CASE Cops seize photos, cellphone in raid on boy's residence THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM The Crime Branch of Goa Police, which is investigating the sex scandal case involving Soham Naik (20) from Cacora-Curchorem, conducted a detailed inspection of Naik’s house on Thursday. A team, which was accompanied by a mobile forensic unit, took the accused to his residence, where officials carried out an intensive search of the house, sources said. During the search officials recovered photographs and a mobile phone. The evidence was seized to be sent for forensic analysis. Sources said the investigation team also identified three more victims, whose statements are currently being recorded. The presence of the forensic team drew significant public attention as the house is located along a busy roadside, attracting onlookers during the operation. IN SHORT >> 14 burnt to death in Andhra bus fire RAYAVARAM: At least 14 people aboard a private bus were burnt to death and 22 injured in a blaze triggered following the vehicle's collision with a tipper here in Markapuram district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday. The accident occurred when the bus rammed into the concrete chips-laden dumper truck, colliding with its fuel tank.  >> See pg 7 Man dies as scooter rams power panel VASCO: A 48-year-old man from Ponda lost his life after his scooter rammed into an electrical distribution panel at Quelossim late Wednesday night. Police said he lost control of his scooter and crashed into the roadside electricity panel.  >> See pg 5 Iran war: PM to hold meet with CMs today NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will interact with State chief ministers tomorrow evening through video conferencing on the West Asia conflict. The meeting will review preparedness and plans of States. 2 GOA MMC urges evacuation from landslideprone areas ahead of monsoon RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 LIFE World Theatre Day: Kala Academy -- The show must go on 6 SPORTS Mbappe dismisses reports Real Madrid examined uninjured knee 13 AFTER SANQUELIM ROLLBACK… Oppn turns up heat, wants all Sec 39A approvals scrapped SAYS 60-DAY OIL BUFFER; 800,000 TONNES LPG READY To petition CM with zone change consents and demand revocation PTI THE GOAN I NETWORK NEW DELHI India has about 60 days of oil stock cover and has arranged one full month of LPG supply, the government said on Thursday, adding that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG, calling reports of shortages as a “deliberate misinformation campaign” aimed at triggering panic buying. Amid reports of panic buying and long queues at petrol pumps and LPG distributors, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, for the first time since the war in West Asia broke out, released stock details of crude oil, fuels and LPG as it rushed to calm nerves. Parallely, State-owned oil marketing companies also said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and supplies remain stable. In a statement, the ministry said all petrol pumps across the country are adequately stocked and operating nor- Panic buying of fuel continues in Goa PANAJI: Panic buying of petrol and diesel continued across Goa on Thursday, with long queues at fuel stations as anxious citizens rushed to stock up, despite repeated assurances from the government and oil companies that supply remains stable and uninterrupted. The situation, which began on Wednesday, persisted through the day, with heavy rush reported at most major fuel stations in Panaji and other parts of the State. While pumps continued to operate, the sudden spike in demand disrupted operations and led to extended waiting times for consumers.  >> See pg 3 mally, with no rationing of petrol or diesel. With some petrol pumps, especially in smaller towns, finding difficulty in lifting fuel after oil companies put them on cash-and-carry, the ministry said steps have been taken to increase credit to petrol pumps to over three days from earlier allowed one day in order to ensure that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel at any pump due to working capital issues of pump owners. “There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG anywhere in the country,” it said, emphasising that the country's petroleum and LPG supply situation is “fully secure and under control.” Stating that all retail fuel outlets have enough supplies, the ministry called upon citizens not to be “misled by a deliberately mischievous, coordinated campaign of misinformation that is being carried out to spread unjustified panic.” A DAY AFTER CALANGUTE SHACK ATTACK… Touristsʼ arrogance sparks violent clash in Mapusa LOCAL THRASHED OVER PETTY DISPUTE THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA A fresh incident of violence involving tourists has once again raised concerns over unruly behaviour at Goa’s popular hubs, with locals alleging that visitors often disregard basic norms and laws of the land. Tensions flared on Thursday at the taxi stand in Mapusa after a group of tourists from Karnataka allegedly assaulted a local resident following a minor parking dispute. The local, who had stopped in the area with his family for refreshments, reportedly got into a verbal argument with the tourists, which quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. Eyewitnesses said that five to six tourists ganged up against the lone local, subjecting him to slaps and punches over what was described as a trivial issue. The assault drew the attention of bystanders, Abusive tourists pushing shack staff to the brink, say operators MAPUSA: Even as authorities swiftly cracked down on a Calangute beach shack following a violent assault on tourists, shack operators across the coastal belt say a deeper, often ignored issue is fuelling such flashpoints – the increasingly abusive behaviour of certain domestic tourists that leaves staff provoked, humiliated and, at times, pushed to the edge. Shack owners and workers claim that while incidents of violence are condemnable, they rarely occur in isolation. According to them, repeated instances of verbal abuse, intimidation and non-payment by unruly visitors have created a tense working environment where tempers can snap.  >> See pg 3 with several locals rushing to the aid of the victim. This soon spiralled into a full-blown clash in the middle of the busy taxi stand. During the scuffle, some locals retaliated, with one of the tourists being beaten before managing to break free and flee the scene. Police personnel arrived shortly thereafter and detained two tourists, PLAN ‘CHALO AZAD MAIDAN’ PROTEST ON MONDAY SANGUEM The ongoing dharna against the bandhara at Mirabag-Sanvordem has entered its forty-fifth day, with protesters vowing to continue their agitation until the government issues a written confirmation scrapping the project. The agitators have now set a two-day deadline for the government to issue a written assurance, warning that a ‘Chalo Azad Maidan’ protest will be launched on Monday if their demand is not met. 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Enough fuel stock, Centre refutes shortage reports Protesters give govt 2-day deadline for written assurance on bandhara THE GOAN I NETWORK The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 278 HC calls on Finance Dept to expedite approval for Vacuum Sewer System Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan Stating this at a news conference, Sanket Bhandari stated that the government would be held responsible for any consequences arising thereafter. The agitators claimed the government has offered only verbal assurances, with no concrete outcome. Citing past experiences where verbal promises failed to materialise, the protesters have made it clear that they will not withdraw the agitation without a written commitment. Addressing the gathering, former minister Deepak Pauskar remarked that elected repre- sentatives had earlier assured that the project would not proceed if it faced public opposition. However, he noted that for the past forty-five days, people have been left to protest on the streets, pushing their patience to the limit. He also criticised the Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar for raising fears of water scarcity and suggested that instead of pushing for the bandhara, the government should focus on >Continued on P7 taking them to the police station for questioning. By late evening, the police were still investigating the matter and sources indicated that a case is likely to be registered. The incident comes just days after another case where tourists were allegedly >Continued on P7 Third tanker docks at Mormugao Port VASCO: Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and growing anxiety over fuel availability, the Mormugao Port has quietly turned into a crucial lifeline for Goa, ensuring uninterrupted supply of petrol and diesel to the state. Berth 8 at the port has been witnessing steady activity, with tanker vessels docking to replenish Goa’s fuel reserves sourced from refineries across India. On March 26, the tanker vessel ‘M.V. Sanmar Sitar’ – the third -- docked at Mormugao Port carrying a substantial cargo of 18,000 metric tonnes of diesel and 8,000 metric tonnes of petrol.  >> See pg 3 PANAJI A day after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant moved to revoke land conversion approvals for an 80,000 sq mt plot in his Sanquelim constituency under Section 39A, Opposition MLAs have stepped up pressure on the government, exploring a coordinated push to seek similar rollbacks across Goa, with their respective constituencies or talukas as prime focus. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said he has sought detailed information on all zone change permissions in Salcete and will soon approach the Chief Minister demanding revocation of such approvals. Questioning the intent behind the swift action in Sanquelim, Alemao said the government must clarify whether the move would be replicated across constituencies or was limited to political considerations. “With the speed at which the Chief Minister directed TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane to withdraw 39A approvals PLAN OF ACTION „„Yuri to document all Salcete zone change approvals and petition the chief minister for their cancellation „„Viresh asks MLAs cutting across party lines to write to the govt and CM seeking cancellation of such approvals While the Iran war has disrupted the supply of half of the crude oil (raw material used to make fuels like petrol and diesel), the country has secured enough crude supplies from elsewhere for the next 60 days. Also, fuel tanks are at optimum levels and can help cover two months of requirements. On LPG, whose supply has been scarce because of the shutting down of Strait of Hormuz - the conduit which shipped a bulk of Indian supplies, the ministry said 800,000 tonnes of LPG cargoes have been secured and one full month of supply is firmly arranged. Separately, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) put out posts to say their petrol pumps were operating normally and there was no shortage of any fuels across the country. Horn triggers road rage at Navelim, car vandalised Cyclonic winds lash Sattari, cause widespread damage THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO In a chilling burst of road rage that has now gone viral -- all because the driver blew the horn in order to overtake -- a young scooter rider allegedly chased down the car and went on a smashing spree that left the vehicle wrecked onWednesday. According to the complainant, the altercation was triggered after he blew the horn while attempting to overtake the accused. Police have registered an offence under different Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against 20-year-old Anthony Rebello of Chinchinim. Complainant Roy Mascarenhas (40), a resident of Pereira Vaddo, Utorda, stated that he was driving from Gudi towards Margao in his car when Rebello followed him. Near Praful Super Store, the accused allegedly blocked the car, abused Mascarenhas and threatened him with a knife. He further smashed the car’s side rear-view mirrors and front windshield, causing losses of around Rs 1 lakh. in Sanquelim, the question is whether the same urgency will be shown elsewhere to halt Goa’s destruction,” Alemao said, adding that people would otherwise see the decision as an attempt to safeguard a vote bank. St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar echoed the demand, calling for a blanket revocation of all permissions granted under Section 39A of the TCP Act. >Continued on P7 HOUSES, POWER INFRA, CROPS DESTROYED A banana plantation that was destroyed due to strong winds in Khotoda. (INSET) One of the houses that was damaged. THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI Several houses and power infrastructure were damaged, while trees were uprooted after strong winds struck Khotoda in Sattari taluka late Wednesday night. According to information, the area witnessed lightning, followed by light rainfall HOT, HUMID WEATHER CONTINUES; PARTS OF GOA GET RAINFALL >> See pg 3 Wednesday evening. However, strong winds later caused widespread damage in many villages, including Khotwada, Gawane, Malpan, Rangoli, Asoda, Shirsode and Dharage in Khotoda panchayat. Many banana plantations were completely destroyed, leading to significant economic losses. It is estimated that more than 20 farmers have been affected. Coconut trees and cashew plantations also suffered severe losses. >Continued on P7 Piped gas plans for Goa stuck in red tape SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI T he rollout of City Gas Distribution (CGD) in Goa has slowed significantly due to prolonged approval delays, with nearly 16 km of proposed pipeline work and network expansion plans remaining stuck for over a year, hampering the spread of piped natural gas (PNG) infrastructure across key urban centres. Goa Natural Gas Pvt Ltd (GNGPL) has been awaiting permission to dig and lay approximately 16 kms of pipelines in major parts of Tiswadi, including Panaji and Taleigao, as well as pockets of Ponda. The delay has also stalled the company’s plans to expand its PIPED GAS HITS BUREAUCRATIC WALL „„Permissions pending for 16 km pipeline work across Tiswadi (Panaji, Taleigao) and parts of Ponda „„Proposals for Porvorim & Calangute–Candolim– Baga expansion stuck for 1 year „„Multiple authorities delaying approvals „„Lack of coordination between departments causing repeated delays „„Recently completed roads (Taleigao) restrict fresh digging, risk 3-year delay „„No formal approval yet for laying pipelines under footpaths „„Political objections over road damage, drainage disruption, public inconvenience „„Slow response despite repeated follow-ups by GNGPL „„Pending files and unattended proposals blocking network expansion „„Need for central intervention to ease approvals, land access network to Porvorim and the coastal belt of Calangute-Candolim-Baga, with proposals lying unattended for nearly a year. At a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on Tuesday, GNGPL flagged that multiple authorities including the Public Works Department, National Highways, City Corporation of Panaji (CCP), local panchayats, and Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd have held back permissions. The prolonged delays are highlighted by the agency to the State government as Centre steps in with policy-level interventions. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), invoked provisions under the Essential Commodities Act to introduce reforms aimed at easing approvals and land access for CGD projects. The Ministry stated that the move is intended to “address delays in approvals and access to land” and accelerate the development of natural gas infrastructure across the country. The push gains urgency in light of ongoing LPG supply constraints, with the Centre urging States to fast-track CGD expansion through measures >Continued on P7