log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY MAY 22, 2026 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 334 PWD finally moves in to raze dangerous Margao balconies 2 GOA Road cave-ins disrupt traffic in St Inez, raise safety concerns 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 10 INFO Work from home injuries are real: Spine, eye & mental health risks RGP at crossroads as founder Manoj quits over internal rift PARAB ALLEGES CONSPIRACY, GREED AND ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE CONTROL OF PARTY; MOVE LIKELY TO RESHAPE PARTY EQUATIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a dramatic political development that could significantly alter Goa’s regional political landscape ahead of future elections, Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) founder and president Manoj Parab on Thursday resigned from the top post and also quit the party altogether, bringing to the surface an intense internal battle that has been simmering within the youngest regional force in Goa. Parab’s sudden exit, announced during an emotional news conference in Panaji, marks the most serious crisis faced by the party since its emergence as a powerful regional movement in 2017. The resignation comes after days of escalating tensions between supporters of lone RGP MLA Viresh Borkar and a faction loyal to Parab, exposing deep divisions within the organisation over leadership, control and the party’s future direction. Flanked by trusted of- >PG 6 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: SAFEGUARDING THE PRESENT Page 8 How SUVs pushed India’s small cars off the road MG Windsor EV: Comfort-first EV for the urban grind IN SHORT >> HC Judge to chair prison reform panel PANAJI: The Goa government has constituted a State Monitoring Committee, headed by Justice Valmiki Menezes, to oversee implementation of Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs).  >> See pg 3 Youth arrested in Kudnem murder case BICHOLIM: Goa Police arrested an absconding accused in Thane in connection with the murder of a 58-year-old woman at Chikne, Kudnem-Sankhalim.  >> See pg 2 Resignation accepted; party says will continue journey An emotional Manoj Parab is consoled by party members after resigning from the RGP on Thursday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar fice-bearers Ajay Kholkar and General Secretary Vishwas Naik, a visibly emotional Parab said he was stepping down after accepting responsibility for his inability to hold the organisation together during a period of growing internal conflict. “This revolution had started in 2017 in its purest form. Today, I may have resigned from my responsibilities, but the party will continue to function,” Parab said, while announcing his withdrawal from active politics. However, his departure is expected to trigger major political consequences within the RGP, a party that had positioned itself as an alternative to both national parties and traditional regional formations in Goa. Political observers believe the resignation could lead to a complete restructuring of the organisation, intensify factional battles, and MAPUSA: In a significant late-evening development following the dramatic resignation of Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) founder Manoj Parab, the party officially announced that it has accepted his resignation as president and member, while asserting that the organisation will continue its political journey without further resignations. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the party’s core committee and office bearers, RGP Treasurer Ajay Kholkar said the leadership had unanimously decided to accept Parab’s resignation and respect his decision to step away from active politics. “We had a meeting this evening where the core committee members and office bearers decided that the party is accepting Manoj’s resignation letter and we respect his decision,” Kholkar said. The press conference was attended by General Secretary Vishwesh Naik, Vice Presidents Anish Naik and Seby Fernandes, North Goa District President Gauresh Mandrekar, along with other executive members of the party. Kholkar clarified that some leaders were absent because the meeting and media briefing had been convened at short notice. He also revealed that repeated attempts were made to contact St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar regarding the meeting. >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ sparks trademark battle MULTIPLE APPLICANTS SEEK RIGHTS OVER VIRAL POLITICAL SATIRE BRAND AFTER X ACCOUNT WITHHELD PTI NEW DELHI Three separate trademark applications have been filed seeking rights over the name Cockroach Janata Party, official records showed. The filings, by lesser-known individuals, come amid growing attention around a satirical political outfit Cockroach Janata Party that had attracted million of views and followers within days of launch for its online commentary and digital presence. While the X account of the outfit was withheld in India, the applications filed with the Trade Marks Registry portal seek trademark registration under the category for providing political and social services. Separate applications have been filed by individuals Azim Adambhai Jam and Akhand Swaroop -- about whom not much is known -- and by a proprietorship Cockroach Janata Party. According to the Trade Marks Registry portal, the status of two applications are showing ‘Formalities Check Pass’, which means applications have successfully cleared the initial technical scrutiny by the trademark office. The third application status is ‘Sent to Vienna Codification” means it has been send for classification under the Vienna Classification sys- THE GOAN I NETWORK tem. This usually happens when the trademark contains a logo/ symbol/image/shape/ design or graphical element. This application was filled for ‘Cockroach Janata Party (Label Mark)’, which means the applicant has applied to register not just the words “Cockroach Janata Party”, but the complete visual/logo version of the mark. PANAJI The Goa State Election Commission (SEC) has scrapped the ward delimitation process it had initiated for 11 municipal councils, declaring it null and void. The move comes as immediate fallout to the sweeping changes made to the Goa Municipalities Act through the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, promulgated about a month ago. The cancelled exercise covered Pernem, Valpoi, Bicholim, Mapusa, Mormugao, Margao, Cuncolim, Quepem, Canacona, Curchorem-Cacora and Sanguem municipal bodies. The SEC said the earlier process under Sections 9 and 10 of the 1968 Act had become infructuous after the ordinance amended Sections 9, 10 and 11. Promulgated by Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, in mid-April, the ordinance vests full control of >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 THE TRADEMARK SCRAMBLE „„Viral satire outfit gains massive online following „„X account withheld in India; Instagram remains active „„Applications filed SEC nullifies delimitation process for civic bodies under political and social services category „„Two filings clear initial scrutiny stage „„One application filed for logo/label trademark „„Trademark process may take one to two years „„Outfit reportedly crossed 15 million Instagram followers 11 SPORTS East Bengal crowned ISL champ, ends 22-year wait TRAGIC THURSDAY One killed, nine injured in separate mishaps across Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK PERNEM/PANAJI A pedestrian was fatally knocked down, while nine others were injured in three separate road mishaps in Patradevi-Pernem, Kasavali-Mollem and Bhati-Sanguem on Thursday. In the first incident, a 25-year-old truck driver from UP was nabbed by police in a hit and run mishap which claimed the life of a pedestrian on the highway at Pernem early Thursday morning. According to Pernem police, Amresh Mote of Torxem-Pernem went to the Patradevi police outpost at about 6.35 am and informed that a container truck proceeding from Torxem side to Patradevi side dashed one male pedestrian on the highway and fled from the spot, leaving the pedestrian injured at the spot. A police team rushed to the site and found out that the pedestrian, Narayan Sahadev Sawal (65) of Sawal wada in Patradevi-Pernem, had sustained fatal injuries. On further enquiries, police learnt that one Lakhu Raghoba Naik who was an THE ACCIDENTS „„Patradevi-Pernem: 65-year-old pedestrian Narayan Sawal killed in a hit-and-run on highway „„Container truck driver from UP later arrested in Maharashtra „„Kasavali-Mollem: Five persons, including a pregnant woman from Tamil Nadu, injured after tourist bus allegedly rammed vehicle from rear „„Bhati-Sanguem: Four persons, including a woman, injured in collision between bike and scooter at Bomdimal eyewitness to the fatal accident followed the container truck till Insuli-Maharashtra, however his efforts turned futile. Accordingly, a team led by Pl Neenad Deulkar of Mopa Airport police station and HC Milind Mote of Mopa Airport Traffic Cell swung into action and obtained CCTV footage at the border check post. The police team then proceeded to Lanje-Maharashtra and nabbed the accused Mohammed Ajim Khan (25) of Uttar Pradesh along with the container truck. A case under Section 281, 106(1), of BNS and Section 134 (a)(b) of MV Act has been reg- istered against the accused. In the second incident, five people, including a pregnant woman from Tamil Nadu, were injured in an accident at Mollem, Kasavali on Thursday after a tourist bus allegedly hit their vehicle from the rear. Collem police rushed to the spot and conducted the panchnama. In the third mishap, four persons injured, including one woman, in an accident between a bike and scooter at Bomdimal in Vilyan-Bhati, Sanguem. All the injured were shifted to the PHC at Sanguem Primary Health Centre for treatment. Goa projects itself as India’s ‘work from anywhere’ hub STATE CREATING ECOSYSTEM FOR STARTUPS, REMOTE WORKERS AND DIGITAL CREATORS: CM AT ‘SHACKATHON’ LAUNCH THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said Goa is steadily transforming from being known solely as a tourism destination into a growing hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and flexible work culture, driven by the aspirations of the younger generation. Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Goa Shackathon – Work from Goa’ initiative at Baga beach, Sawant said the State is actively creating an ecosystem that supports startups, digital professionals and remote workers. Addressing entrepreneurs, startup founders and innovators at the event, the Chief Minister said Goa’s natural environment and relaxed lifestyle make it an ideal destination for the emerging “work from anywhere” culture. “The Gen Z looks at issues along fresh lines. From the typical office setup, Gen Z now wants flexibility, mental Drone innovators demonstrate cutting-edge aerial technology to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at Goa Shackathon on Thursday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar peace and an environment that sparks creativity. That opens huge opportunities for Goa. We are creating an environment for work-from-home and work-from-beach destinations where people can work with a beautiful view,” Sawant said. He added that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Goa government is strengthening the State’s startup ecosystem through policy support, digital infrastructure and skill development initiatives. “Today, 34 startups have already been registered and financial assistance worth Rs 4.10 crore has been utilised,” the Chief Minister said. Sawant noted that the government is focusing on creating opportunities in emerging sectors such as technology, >Continued on P9 India on Ebola watch, Rash driving fuels rise in accidents; 851 mishaps in April ACCIDENTS: CAUSE FOR CONCERN issues travel advisory Traffic cops told to target major THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI India has issued a health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries, asking those with symptoms or exposure history to immediately report to airport health authorities before immigration clearance. The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), specifically mentions travellers coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, all of which have been categorised as “high-risk countries” by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The advisory has been displayed at the Delhi airport by the Airport Health Organisation (APHO). It advises passengers to watch out for symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat and unexplained bleeding. It also asks travellers who had direct contact with blood or body fluids of a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient to immediately report to the airport health officer or the health desk. PANAJI s Goa reeled from at least 10 road accidents over the past fortnight – including two major pile-ups involving multiple vehicles – fresh data from the Goa Traffic Police has revealed worsening road safety crisis across the State, driven overwhelmingly by rash and negligent driving. The Goa Traffic Police’s “Accident Scenario, April 2026” report indicated the State recorded 851 accidents in April this year, up from 797 during the corresponding month in 2025 – an increase of 54 cases, or 6.78 per cent. Fatalities also rose marginally, from 87 to 89. A „„851 road accidents in April 2026, up 6.78% from 797 cases last year „„Fatalities rose from 87 to 89 „„Motorcyclists accounted for 77.52% of all deaths „„Rash and negligent driving was blamed for 92.62% of all accidents „„Verna and Old Goa recorded the highest number of accidents with 70 cases each „„Verna topped the fatality chart with nine deaths „„Most accidents occurred between 5 pm and 6 pm during peak traffic hours „„Daytime accidents (516) far exceeded nighttime crashes (335) „„Pernem and Saligao reported a 500% rise in accidents over last year’s corresponding figures The April figures alone exceeded the total number of accidents reported during the entire January-to-March period this year. The report paints a grim picture of driving behaviour in Goa, with an overwhelming 92.62 per cent of all accidents attributed to rash and negligent driving – reviving long-standing concerns over speeding, reckless overtaking, and poor lane discipline on highways as well as urban roads. National Highways accounted for 33.64 per cent of all accidents, while long straight stretches of road – often associated with overspeeding violations, not petty challans PANAJI: The Traffic Department has called for stricter enforcement on highways and accident-prone roads, urging personnel to focus on serious traffic violations instead of petty challans. In an internal analysis, accessed by The Goan, officials stressed the need for effective traffic control by all police stations. “They should book maximum traffic offenders with the sole purpose to reduce road accidents and should not book petty >Continued on P9 and dangerous manoeuvres – were linked to 74.65 per cent of crashes, mirroring patterns seen in recent high-profile accidents in the State. Among them were two separate accidents on the Dona Paula stretch. In one incident last month, a young pillion rider was killed after a speeding Mini Cooper allegedly driven by a businessman’s son rammed >Continued on P9