log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2023 GOA 13 pages Goa’s Swapnil Naik honoured with Gold Medal PANAJI: Swapnil Mahesh Naik, IAS from Goa, bagged a Gold Medal for his meritorious services to Arunachal Pradesh, known as the state of rising sun. Youth dies in Quepem mishap PANAJI: One 28-years-old youth died at Ambaulim-Quepem after his speeding car jumped on a speed breaker and turned turtle. Deceased Aletious Fernandes from Qupem died on the spot with the impact while co-passenger sustained injuries. ‘Goa Ki Baat’ on 3rd Sat of every month PANAJI: On the lines of Maan Ki Baat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Goa government will commence a special programme titled ‘Goa Ki Baat’ on third Saturday of every month. One Minister from the government will interact with the people of the State every month. Goa to host eight G20 events from April The Goan (Playstore) PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.245 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 13 2 9 blames Five Goa ATS personnel Accidents: Govtof driversit on indiscipline caught in extortion bid MMC floats fresh tender for garbage collection after govt junks proposal IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday GOA INFO Mapusa’s worst-kept road gets some tar, thanks to King Momo Pseudogout: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment SPORTS Injured Warner ruled out of India Test series MAINTAINS SILENCE ON POOR DESIGN, CONDITION OF ROADS DGP TO ORDER HIGH-LEVEL PROBE; FOOTAGE REACHES OFFICE OF UNION HOME MINISTER THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In yet another embarrassing episode, Goa Police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is caught in an extortion scam, prompting Director General of Police Jaspal Singh to order a high-level probe. CCTV footage purportedly shows five ATS personnel demanding Rs 10 lakh from a businessman who negotiated it to Rs 5 lakh. The incident is believed to have occurred in the office of an online gaming company in Salcete where the civil-clothed men identified themselves as ATS personnel from Panaji. However, the branch unit has not confirmed it yet. The video has now reached the Offices of the Union Home THE ‘EXTORTION’ TRAIL „„CCTV footage purportedly shows five ATS personnel demanding Rs 10 lakh from a businessman who negotiated it to Rs 5 lakh „„The incident is believed to have occurred in the office of an online gaming company in Salcete where the civil-clothed men identified themselves as ATS personnel „„It is learnt that a PI, two head constables and a police constable were on an extortion spree on instructions of a SP Minister and the Goa Chief Minister. DGP Singh on Tuesday said that the department has initiated an inquiry following a complaint lodged by the businessman. “Appropriate action will be taken based on the re- ‘Extortionists’ return money to complainant PANAJI: Even before the issue could snowball into a major controversy, the personnel returned the extorted money to the complainant. A higher-up revealed that the cops involved in the case were asked to return the amount, which was done so. “They are habitual ‘extortionists’. The same group was involved in two other incidents in Calangute and Anjuna previously but it was brushed under the carpet,” the source said. port’s findings,” he said. Senior officers have come under the scanner with a Central-cadre police officer also likely to be probed. “The extortion bid is ‘traditionally’ taking place without any fear. The extortions were ear- PANAJI: Goa is privileged to host 8 of the G20 events from April to July 2023, informed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday. Goa government ensures full support to events that provide a platform to strengthen the Higher Education community, he added. THE GOAN I NETWORK >Continued on P5 PANAJI With around 380 accidents in 52 days, which means the State witnessed over seven accidents each day; the government has pointed fingers at the indiscipline of riders/ drivers as the main cause. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that drunken driving, noncompliance of traffic rules and blind overtaking are the three prime reasons for serious accidents. The government has however maintained silence on the poor design and maintenance of some of the roads. “In comparison to other states, the proportion of vehicles per population is more in Goa. People should cooperate with our departments to reduce accidents, and follow traffic rules. Drunken driving, not following traffic rules and overtaking are the main reasons behind these accidents,” Sawant said after CM’s tough talk „„In comparison to other states, the proportion of vehicles per population is more in Goa and people should cooperate with departments to reduce accidents, and follow traffic rules „„Drunken driving, not following traffic rules and overtaking are the main reasons behind these accidents Margao traffic cell seizes 40 bikes for violations   >> See pg 2 chairing a cabinet meeting at Secretariat. The State has been recording an increase in accidents, which have claimed at least 50 deaths so Police in civil to shoot photos of traffic offenders MAPUSA: In bid to enforce traffic discipline among motorists in Mapusa sub-division, plain-clothes policemen have been tasked to move around with smartphones and shoot photos of all those riders/ drivers who violate traffic rules and thereafter report the violations to the respective police stations.   >> See pg 3 far this year. The CM also said that the Traffic Cell, Transport and Public Works Departments are taking measures to reduce road accidents. “These three departments will work on short-term gain and long-term improvement to reduce road accidents,” he added. >Continued on P5 After Goa, narcotics supply from Mumbai worries Hyderabad cops Chargesheet filed in student rape case lier sought on behalf of an IPS officer, who is currently not attached to this unit. But we cannot rule out the fact that it could be happening before that too…. Some of Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI: The Panaji Women Police sleuths on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against a driver on charges of raping a student on December 25, 2022.  >> See pg 3 3 held for cheating Japanese tourist PORVORIM: North Goa police have arrested three persons from a gang on charges of cheating and robbing a Japanese tourist during his holiday in the State.   >> See pg 3 Calangute local held with drugs worth `90K MAPUSA: Police on Tuesday arrested a 39-year-old local from Umtavaddo, Calangute for illegally possessing heroin worth Rs 90,000. The contraband was found in a new Mahindra Thar vehicle which the accused was driving.  >> See pg 2 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 34 C 23 C 47% Low: 06:22 18:20 High: 00:10 12:17 GOA’S ‘DRUG LORDS’ STILL LANGUISHING IN JAIL PANAJI Six months after the Hyderabad (Telangana) police crossed its territory to dismantle an inter-state drug network originating from Goa, the four alleged peddlers, whom Goa’s counterparts identify as “drug lords” are languishing in Hyderabad jails. Hyderabad Commissioner C V Anand (IPS) has refused to let go the efforts made by its sleuths to crack down on the lethal trade, which came in 22 days before BJP leader and reel star Sonali Phogat succumbed to drug overdose. In his tweet on Tuesday, Anand claimed that his anti-narcotics unit has busted Goa’s modules of operating the network in several parts of the country. The revelation comes even as Goa Police subsequently started a drive against the illicit trade with dozens of cases booked within a short span in September-October, 2022. “As u (you) wud (would) know, the HNEW, Hyd (Hyderabad) Narcotics Enforcement Wing, has been on a big drive to rid this city of drugs since a year and has already busted several Goa modules and the drug lords there, Edwin (Nunes), Murugan, De Souza (Stephen alias Steve D’Souza), Hyderabad Commissioner tweet reads... The peddlers have now turned their attention to Mumbai as a supply route. There is a switch to synthetic drugs as cocaine, hash, heroin are in short supply here (Hyderabad). Very disturbing facts come to our notice and I make a Personal Appeal to all youngsters, boys and girls to desist from this life & career ruining habit and request all parents to keep a close watch on their children and where they r (are) going etc (Pritesh) Borkar etc are now in Hyderabad jails,” he posted. The intention to mention its ‘secret’ mission that subsequently led to differences between Goa and Hyderabad police, was to create awareness among the youth in his city who are falling prey to drugs. “The peddlers have now turned their attention to Mumbai as a supply route. There is a switch to synthetic drugs as cocaine, hash, heroin are in short supply here (Hyderabad). Very disturbing facts come to our notice and I make a Personal Appeal to all youngsters, boys and girls to desist from this life & career ruining habit and request all parents to keep a close watch on their children and where they r (are) going etc,” read his four-thread post. The Hyderabad police have managed to extend the alleged peddlers’ imprisonment by imposing the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, 1988. Borkar was among the first to be arrested on August 16, 2022 while he was picked up on August 1, 2022 followed by a missing complaint filed by his family members at Anjuna police station. The Hyderabad police however maintained that he was arrested on August 16. This was followed by a marathon investigation in Goa and arrests of some big names. Goa Police simultaneously started a drive against drugs consumption with dozens of cases booked within a short span. The problem of coordination among the law enforcement agencies was thereafter sorted. In a recent case, Goa Police solved a kidnapping for ransom case wherein two Hyderabad men were abducted by 11 persons in Goa. Police personnel stand guard at Arambol beach on Tuesday as authorities cancelled the carnival parade by foreign tourists since no permission was given. (More photos on pg 3) Narayan Pissurlenkar Carnival by foreigners at Arambol cancelled AUTHORITIES CLAIM NO PERMISSION WAS ISSUED FOR THE PARADE THE GOAN I NETWORK PERNEM If a traditional carnival parade in one area of Panaji was denied permission by authorities, the situation was no different further up North Goa after two-decade-old tradition by foreign tourists to stage a carnival parade was cancelled by authorities at Arambol beach on Tuesday. A number of foreign tourists had been decked up in colourful attire and were prepared to stage the carnival parade, when they were told that the carnival parade could not take place. When contacted, Pernem PI Dattaram Raut told media persons that no permission had been issued for the carnival parade in Arambol and hence, it was not allowed to take place. The Carnival parade by foreign tourists, predominantly Russians, had been taking place at Arambol every year. As part of this parade, the foreign tourists would assemble and later take part in a parade towards the Arambol beach. A beach party would usually take place after the procession. The tourists expressed unhappiness over the decision to cancel their carnival celebrations at Arambol. A few kilometres away, a Carnival parade was conducted at Morjim and a number of tourists and locals participated in the celebrations. Mandre MLA Jit Arolkar, who flagged-off the carnival parade at Morjim, said such festivals are inclusive and entertain tourists. MLA Arolkar said the threeday carnival celebrations in Morjim were organised with the support of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the Tourism department along with the locals. “We plan to hold the food festival and carnival at Morjim every year, as they depict various traditional folk dances, vocations and also give inspiring messages through the floats,” said Arolkar. Morjim ZP member Satish Shetgaonkar, Sarpanch Surekha Amit Shetgaonkar, deputy sarpanch Pawan Morje and others were present on the occasion at the Milagres Church complex. Various floats, troupes and artistes participated in the Carnival parade. Now, Artificial Intelligence for Sattari VPs, VMC oppose RGP’s ‘Mhadei padyatra’ transcribing SC proceedings  WRITE TO DY COLLECTOR NOT TO GRANT PERMISSION  CLAIM THERE COULD BE LAW & ORDER PROBLEM PTI NEW DELHI In a first, the Supreme Court started using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing technology for live transcription of its hearings on an experimental basis from Tuesday. The live transcription has been launched in the court room of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud. The Constitution bench proceedings will be transcribed from Tuesday and given to lawyers for vetting prior to uploading on the Supreme Court website. This will be on an experimental basis for a day or two to iron out creases in transcription before becoming a norm, the CJI said. Do you see the screen? We’re just trying to explore the possibilities of live transcript. Then we will have a permanent record of arguments. Law colleges can analyse, the bench headed by the CJI said as the Constitution bench hearing commenced. “Now the only issue is that if two or more people talk over, it can be an issue. But there are persons overseeing it. They will hear and clear it up”, CJI said. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal lauded that it is a “wonderful idea” and “milestone”. Justice PS Narasimha said that this will mean that the Supreme Court will be literally a “Court of Record” with every work getting recorded. The CJI headed Constitution bench is hearing the case related to the 2022 power struggle in Maharashtra. THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI After being stopped by authorities twice in different villages in Sattari on Monday, the Revolutionary Goans Party’s (RGP) padyatra to create awareness on the Mhadei issue encountered further tensions on Tuesday when the Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) and all panchayats petitioned the Deputy Collector not to allow the padyatra in Sattari. In their petition to Deputy Collector Praveen Parab, the local bodies have stated that RGP’s padyatra could lead to law and order problems in Sattari. RGP vows to move court if padyatra denied >> See pg 3 Sarpanchas and panchas of various panchayats of Sattari along with VMC Chairperson Sehzeen Shaikh while addressing a news conference after submitting a memorandum to the deputy collector.  Uday Sawant Tensions over the padyatra began shortly after it started from Thane village. The padyatra was stopped at Mauxi after the local panchayat objected to the rally. The padyatra was later stopped yet again at Koparde after police claimed some locals had complained about the possibility of law and order problem if the padyatra was allowed to enter their village. A fresh confrontation ensued with the administration officials, with Parab and Borkar demanding to know the names of locals who had opposed their padyatra and as a protest, squatted on the road. They were engaged in discussion with Deputy Collector Praveen Parab till late night. The RGP leaders and their supporter left the site only after being told that a meeting was convened at 3 pm on Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon, panchayat members of all panchayats in Sattari along with VMC Chairperson Sehzeen Sheikh submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector, objecting to the RGP padyatra in Sattari as it could lead to tensions and a law and order problem. After submitting their petition, Morle Sarpanch Amit Shirodkar told media persons that they are against the >Continued on P5