log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2023 GOA MRF: Court cracks down on panchayats PANAJI: Tightening the noose around village panchayats for their failure to set up material recovery facilities (MRF) for effective garbage management, the High Court asked Director of Panchayat to act on Sarpanchas who have erred in carrying out their duties and take requisite action within one week. Goa’s first solar ferry boat sets sail PANAJI: Goa’s first electric-cum-solar ferry boat commenced operations plying between Panaji and Chorao from Monday. The 60 passenger capacity ferry will make 4 trips per day and the rides will be free for one month. Minor among two held for bike thefts MAPUSA: Two youngsters have been arrested from Siolim including a minor for allegedly stealing twowheelers, Mapusa police said on Monday. A total of four two-wheelers worth Rs 3 lakh have been recovered from the alleged accused. >> See pg 3 Bangla lady held with fake documents PANAJI: A Bangladeshi lady was arrested by airport officials at Dabolim for entering India with fake documents. The accused had fake Indian ID cards and Aadhar card with her. Apprenticeship Mela in Margao on Jan 11 PANAJI: Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is organizing an Apprenticeship Mela at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on January 11. Over 15 companies are expected to participate in the Mela. ITI holders and other local youths can report at the venue at 10 am for registration. Board releases dates for Std 10, 12 exams PANAJI: Goa Board has released the schedule of the second term of the Board exams for Std X and XII. As per the schedule, Std XII Term II exams will commence from March 15 and Std X Term II exams will start from April 1. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 33 C 18 C 83 % Low: 07:09 18:38 High: 01:13 12:05 Over 2,000 vehicles registered in New Year so far O RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 SPORTS INFO Bumrah’s injury tempers return of stalwarts for ODIs against Sri Lanka Get rid of grey hair easily with these simple hacks! Govt bulldozing with agenda, says AAP SAY IT’S AN ACT OF VENGEANCE IN ‘FAMILY DISPUTE’ THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI/MAPUSA The sensational murder of the two siblings and their father’s suicide appears to be a preplanned act as the Calangute police contemplate filing an “open and shut case.” While the police have registered the killing of the Candolim siblings as murder and attribute the motive to “family dispute”, some crucial questions remain unanswered. First, the mother who had gone out for nuptials in the afternoon and returned home at around 5 pm waited for good five hours to break open the door only at around 10 pm. Second, when the whereabouts of the father was not known that night did the police make an all out effort to trace him? Superintendent of Police, North Goa, Nidhin Valsan said a murder case has been registered late Sunday night based on a State complaint. Sources told The Goan that Joy Fernandes, who died by su- NEW DETAILS COME TO LIGHT (According to police sources) „„The timing of the crime indicates Joy had pre-planned the crime since it was a day (Saturday) when his wife and the villagers would be attending a neighbour’s wedding „„It could also be a coincidence that his children did not attend school on that day as his daughter had undergone minor dental treatment the previous day „„On the fateful day, Joy went to hand over Power of Attorney to one of his relatives… told him that he might not live „„The family did not share cordial relations for quite some time as Joy did not have a full-time job „„There was no steady income... being jobless and taking up free-lancing projects did not match his personality, because he was also an aspiring politician icide before killing his very own children at their residence, was probably an act of vengeance due to a family dispute. “The timing of this crime indicates Joy had pre-planned the crime since it was a day (Saturday) when his wife and the villagers would be attending a neighbour’s wedding. It could also be a coincidence that his children did not attend the school on the fateful day,” a credible source, who is closely working with the investigation team, revealed. It is reliably learnt that the couple’s 14-year-old daughter had undergone minor dental treatment on the previous day, and therefore stayed back home on Saturday. Prima-facie, police sources said that while his children Uproar in Velsao as railways take up work on private land Angry land owners confront railway officials THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Angry landowners and residents of Velsao confronted Railway officials after accusing the Railway of carrying out works on private lands without land acquisition and prior intimation. According to sources, the incident took place as the Railways began work on the eastern side of the railway tracks. Landlords rushed to the site and confronted the Railway officials. Goencho Ekvott (GE) executive member and a local Captain Fransisco Gouveia said the Mormugao Dy Collector should take some action and listen to the voices of people. “It is not right to get the work done by trespassing into someone property,” he said. GE Founder member and another local Orville Dourado alleged that the Railways have Members of Goencho Ekvott along with landlords discuss with police regarding the work by Railways at Velsao.  Vikram Nayak criminally encroached and trespassed into private lands. “We requested the police to ask RVNL to maintain status quo but they said there have been instructions from higher-ups not to stop railways works. Private properties have been encroached and trees have been felled. People have now begun confronting the RVNL and police officials be- Centre, States asked to take stringent steps NEW DELHI bserving that religious conversion is a serious issue which should not be given a political colour, the Supreme Court sought the assistance of Attorney General R Venkataramani on a plea seeking direction to the Centre and States to take stringent steps to control fraudulent religious conversions. A bench of Justices M R Shah and C T Ravikumar asked Venkataramani to appear in the matter in which the petitioner sought a check on religious conversions through “intimidation, threatening, deceivingly luring through gifts and monetary benefits”, and assist as amicus curiae. The top court said prime facie it feels religious conver- Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday 3 14 2 10 Murder was pre-planned, Oppn left in cold, no extra day for Mhadei discussion open-and-shut case: cops GOA Religious conversion serious, don’t make it political: SC PTI The Goan (Playstore) 14 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 203 SGPDA under scanner over unattended waste in retail market IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday SUPREME COURT OBSERVATIONS „„Prime facie religious conversions are actually happening „„There is difference between the right to freedom of religion and right to convert „„Purpose of charity should not be conversion „„Religious conversions by force, allurement need to be tackled sions are actually happening. It said there is a difference between the right to freedom of religion and right to convert. “We want your assistance also, AG. Religious conversions by force, allurement etc. There are ways and ways, anything by allurement, if that is happening, then what should be done? What are the corrective measures that can be taken?” the bench said. Senior advocate P Wilson, appearing for Tamil Nadu, called the petition a “politically motivated” PIL, insisting there was no question of such conversions in the State. He said the matter should be left for the legislature to decide and alleged the petitioner has political affiliation. Asserting that the purpose of charity should not be conversion, the top court had earlier reaffirmed that forced religious conversion is a “serious issue” and against the Constitution. cause we have not seen any order till date,” said Dourado. "Recently, we along with land owners had given a memorandum to Dy Collector but nothing happened. There is no land acquisition on this side but works are being carried out on the eastern side while the land acquisition is happening in the western side of the tracks," said Dourado. were enjoying their day off at home, Joy stepped out in the first half of the day. The reason was probably to hand over Power of Attorney to one of his relatives. “While handing over the Power of Attorney to his relative, which certainly shocked the latter, Joy told him that he might not live. He looked upset but nobody anticipated Joy would take a drastic step. All these points that Joy had made up his mind. It is a clear and shut case,” the source said. The family reportedly did not share cordial relations for quite some time, particularly because Joy did not have a full-time job. “There was no steady income, though; his wife is a school teacher. Being jobless and taking up free-lancing projects did not match his personality, because he was also an aspiring politician. All this possibly disturbed the peaceful family ambiance,” the source added. The investigation, however, >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Opposition was on Monday left in the cold with its demand for adding a day exclusively for discussion of the vexed Mhadei issue rejected by the government at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held on Monday. The BAC meeting chaired by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar was called to consider the business to be transacted during the 4-day winter session of the Goa legislative assembly slated to begin on January 16. Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao had on Monday morning met Tawadkar and demanded in writing that the session be extended by a day to accommodate a day-long discussion on the Mhadei issue and also private members' business. In addition to the Speaker who chairs it, the BAC comprises eight other members -- Chief Minsiter Pramod Sawant, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, Legislative Affairs Minister Nilesh Cabral, Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar (MGP), Dep- Govt to move motion for full-day discussion on Mhadei: Sawant PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government will move a motion for discussion of the contentious Mhadei issue in the upcoming Goa legislative assembly winter session slated to begin on January 16. “We have asked the Speaker to allot the entire last day for discussion on Mhadei,” Sawant said after attending the BAC meeting on Monday morning. Sawant said, more time cannot be allotted for the discussion since the session was of only four days and the first day will be entirely dedicated to the Governor’s address. The chief minister said, the next session of the assembly which will be the budget session, will be of 21 days where all the issues can be discussed. ON PAGE 3 ‘Bhivpachi garaz na,’says Sawant on freedom of expression Mhadei casts shadow at Legislators Day event uty Speaker Joshua D'Souza, Venzy Viegas (AAP), Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Viresh Borkar (RGP). Later, speaking to the media after the meet, AAP's Viegas said there is no change in the attitude of the government of bulldozing its agenda. He said, the Opposition is demanding that the one-day discussion should be in addition to the four days of business to be conducted. By extending the session by a day, you can have the discussion on Mhadei issue and also restore the private members business, he added. Bomb scare on Shuttle trains to resolve Mopa Moscow-Goa flight; diverted travel woes? KRC says ready to Jamnagar WANTS PROPOSAL TO COME FROM GOA GOVT THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO/PANAJI Goa Airport at Dabolim was placed on high alert on Monday evening after a call was made that a bomb was on board a Russian charter flight “Azur Airways” bringing in around 244 passengers to Goa from Moscow. The security at the airport was immediately ramped up with a huge police force being deployed and other agencies including ATS, fire officials, bomb squad being activated to take care of any adverse situation. The flight was soon diverted to Jamnagar where it landed at around 9:49 pm. The security agencies were, in the meantime alerted and the passengers were de-boarded whereas the crew members assisted the security agencies to screen the flight including the cabin and luggage. >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Is there a way out to resolve the taxi fare imbroglio as travel from the Manohar International Airport at Mopa to Margao or Benaulim or remote Sanguem and Canacona in down South becomes an expensive proposition? Kadamba Transport Corporation’s electric buses too seemed to have not offered solace to air passengers with the State-owned Corporation coming out with a hefty bus fare pegged at Rs 500 to travel to Margao from Mopa. Well, why not explore the services of the Konkan Railway Corporation to ferry air passengers from Mopa to down South at cheaper fares, as a train journey from the Pernem or Thivim railway station may cost less than Rs 100 to reach Margao. In fact, railways may offer a solution if the Goa government evinces interest in making train travel accessible to air passengers. With the Konkan railway line passing North-South direction, right from Pernem, where the airport is located and Canacona, the State’s extreme southern point, shuttle train service between Pernem-Margao-Canacona or Tivim-Margao may come as a relief to the air passengers, not just to passengers from Goa, but from the neighbouring border areas of Karwar. Remember former BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had sanctioned central funds to KRC to test the Sky Bus technology, which was scheduled to be implemented on the Mapusa-Margao route to facilitate rapid urban >Continued on P5