log on to thegoan.net THURSDAY MAY 4, 2023 GOA @thegoaneveryday OLD P’YAT LIBRARY & CHILDREN’S PARK ABANDONED IN PORVORIM IN SHORT >> 14 Goan candidates battle for Swindon Council polls LONDON: There has been considerable interest within the Goan community in Swindon-UK to participate in local decision-making processes, as around 14 Goans are contesting elections to Borough Councillor and Parish Councillor seats in the Swindon Council which takes place on Thursday.  >> See pg 3 Plaint against CM over migrant remark PANAJI: A complaint has been lodged against CM Pramod Sawant before a court in Patna on Wednesday in connection with his remark that 90 per cent of the crimes in the coastal State were committed by migrant labourers from other states like UP and Bihar. Responding to reactions against his statement by political party leaders from other states, CM said “Knowingly or unknowingly if any state or any labourer from any state has been hurt by my statement, I express my regret.” Boy consumes pool water, dies in hosp MARGAO: Tragedy struck a Bengaluru-based family when a five-year old boy died after he consumed water while he was in the swimming pool at Varca three days ago. The boy was rushed to the South Goa district hospital and was later shifted to the GMC where he breathed his last after battling for life for a day.  >> See pg 2 Speaker Tawadkar’s father passes away CANACONA: Bombo Tawadkar (86), the father of Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, passed away early Wednesday morning. He was admitted at GMC on Tuesday and while undergoing treatment is reported to have suffered a massive heart attack and breathed his last at about 2.30 am on Wednesday.   >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 33 C 26 C 61% Low: 03:43 15:57 High: 10:25 21:44 The Goan (Playstore) 14 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 316 Digambar plays induction ‘googly’ with straight bat, says it’s for CM to decide >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 2 GOA Calangute forum calls for halt to operations of Baga STP 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO What happens when you add jowar in your diet 9 IPL: Mumbai Indians beats Punjab Kings by 6 wickets Cops get ‘sound’ rap from HC, told not to wait for written complaint POLICE BENT ON NOT TAKING ACTION AGAINST VIOLATORS: COURT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa rued that the Goa Police is “bent upon not taking action against the violators of the noise pollution rules framed by the government itself” but gave the Director General of Police an opportunity to “make good his statement” that “all steps would be taken to ensure that this menace of noise pollution beyond 10 pm is curbed.” Hearing a petition filed by one Arnold D’Sa who had filed an application before the Court alleging that orders of the High Court were not being obeyed and that late night music parties were being held with impunity, the High Court ordered that “some action in accord with law must be taken by the end of the next week and a copy of the action taken report must also be furnished.” The High Court noted how several advertisements have KEY COURT RULING & OBSERVATION „„Some action in accord with law must be taken by the end of the next week and a copy of the action taken report must also be furnished „„Several advertisements have been placed on record which indicates that music is to be played between 9.30 pm to 4 am or between 8 pm to 7 am „„This means that the clubs are directly involved in playing music beyond 10 pm „„The police deny such incidents in the first place and, when such incidents are undeniable, come up with pleas that music was being played indoors or that music was actually terminated by 10 pm „„Further, the police authorities are under the firm impression that they are not obliged to act against clubs which are involved in violation of the noise rules unless there is a written complaint been placed on record which indicates that music is to be played between 9.30 pm to 4 am or between 8 pm to 7 am. “This means that the clubs are directly involved in playing music beyond 10 pm,” the High Court observed. The Police Inspector of Anjuna Prashal Desai, told the court that “most of these places are indoor premises where music can continue beyond 10 pm.” In other cases which are clearly outdoor, the PI states that music concludes by 10 pm. “At least, prima facie, indicates that the police authorities are bent upon not taking action against the violators of the noise pollution rules Unfazed by Sec 144 clampdown, taximen shift protest to Pernem Taxi operators vow to continue stir till black-yellow taxi stand allotted at Mopa PERNEM Accusing the State government of imposing Section 144 to suppress their voices, agitating taxi operators in Pernem have vowed to continue their protest till a black-yellow taxi stand is allotted to them at the Manohar International Airport. The taxi operators who had been protesting at Nagzar since Monday shifted the venue of their protest to Pernem, after the government imposed Section 144 around the airport area and surrounding villages, including Nagzar. The agitating taxi operators said they had submitted a proposal for a yellow-black taxi counter on January 23, but they were yet to get a counter till date and when they tried to agitate at Nagzar, the government imposed Section 144 to suppress their legitimate demand. “It looks as if the government is trying to postpone and delay sanctioning our demand for a taxi stand, for reasons best known to them,” alleged a taxi operator. “The Manohar Interna- PANAJI: Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira has alleged that several night clubs who have hired foreign DJs are amongst others playing loud music beyond 10 pm, unfazed it will invite legal action. These clubs, he alleged, are not even sympathetic to the problems of the locals living in the vicinity. “There are many foreign DJs playing music in these clubs, even after 10 pm. They don’t fear the law, but we will ensure all this is completely stopped,” he said after a meeting with the DGP Jaspal Singh and the coastal police at Police Headquarters on Wednesday.  >> See pg 3 All eyes on two-day SCO meet as foreign ministers arrive today India likely to hold talks with China, Russia THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Foreign ministers of eight countries, including Billawal Bhutto of Pakistan, are slated to arrive in Goa on Thursday for a two-day conclave as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The conclave of foreign ministers of Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan and Uzbekistan will be hosted at a starred hotel in Benaulim, South Goa. India took over the chairmanship of the SCO grouping last year and is therefore hosting the meet which gains significant over the presence of the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan in light of recent tension between these two countries and India. Interestingly, India’s foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts Qin EMERGING ‘KEY PLAYER’ „„India is emerging as a key player among the SCO countries though China and Russia are seen as the major drivers that is increasingly seen as an “alternative” to NATO Gang and Sergey Lavrov, respectively, but there was no information if a similar meet will be held with Bhutto on the sidelines of the conclave. India is emerging as a key player among the SCO countries though China and Russia are seen as the major drivers of the grouping that is increasingly seen as an “alternative” to NATO. Meanwhile, the stinking wholesale market and the platform outside wore a new look, with the stench suddenly disappearing from the area since the VVIPs would be travelling by thise route to reach their destination at Benaulim. framed by the government itself,” the High Court observed. “As noted by us in our earlier orders, the police deny such incidents in the first place and, when such incidents are undeniable, come up with pleas that music was being played indoors or that music was actually terminated by 10 pm. Further, the police authorities are under the firm impression that they are not obliged to act against clubs which are involved in violation of the noise rules unless there is a written complaint. This means that even if the beat staff or the staff of the police station hears the loud music, they think that it is not their duty to take any action. It is for the DGP to disabuse the police officials in these police stations of this incorrect impression,” the bench of Justices M S Sonak and Valmiki Sa Menezes, said. Campaign ends, civic elections in Sanquelim, Ponda tomorrow Now, Pernem police refuse to file FIR on woman’s plaint THE GOAN I NETWORK their land for this project and are now only asking for employment and business for their livelihoods,” said Kalangutkar. Adv Jitendra Gaonkar said there were multiple meetings during the four months between the local taxi operators and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and local MLA Pravin Arlekar but no conclusion has been arrived as yet. “There has been no notification of any sort for the taxi stand at the Manohar International Airport. There are private taxi counters operating >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 The taxi operators protesting in Pernem on Wednesday.  Nivrutti Shirodkar tional Airport has offered employment opportunities to hundreds of taxi operators, but how many of them are ‘Pednekars’? Those who operate their taxis there are supporters of politicians and are not ‘Pednekars’, who are being denied their rightful demand.” Goa Forward Party leader and former ZP member Deepak Kalangutkar pledged his support to the agitating taxi operators. “It is time for all political parties to come together on this issue and ensure justice to the legitimate demands of the Pednekars, who offered These clubs don’t fear law, but will ensure complete stop: Aldona MLA PANAJI The campaign for the highstakes civic election in Ponda and Sanquelim came to a close on Wednesday and polling is scheduled to be held on Friday. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, represent the constituencies of Sanquelim and Ponda of which these two municipalities are a part of. Both Sawant and Naik won these seats in the 2022 assembly election by wafer-thin margins and will be keen to restore their bruised political stature by winning these civic polls when results are declared on May 7. In Ponda, Ketan Bhatikar, who as the MGP candidate fell just 77 votes short of the finish line in the assembly election is again leading the opposition to Naik's bid for total control of the municipality. Similarly in Sanquelim, the Congress' Dharmesh Sanglani who was the main challenger in Sawant's narrow 2022 win, is hoping to retain his hold in the civic body where he is known to have political clout. Meanwhile, Section 144 has been invoked in the jurisdiction THE GOAN I NETWORK 14 SPORTS AFTER REPEATED PLEAS WITH EVIDENCE, VICTIM FINALLY APPROACHES WOMEN POLICE STATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Police have been caught in another embarrassing situation. This time involving the Pernem police with its station in-charge accused of neglecting a woman entrepreneur’s complaint of molestation and assault. The reason behind this incident is believed to be a long standing property dispute between a group of locals allegedly led by one Baburao Mandrekar, and the victim Pramila Dewan who runs a holistic retreat centre at Pernem in partnership with her husband Vivek. After failing to ensure registration of her complaint despite repeated pleas and evidence, Pramila on May 2 approached the Women PS alleging that some armed goons trespassed into her property, dragged her out of the bathroom and assaulted the couple. Justifying her decision to lodge a complaint out of the crime jurisdiction, Pramila charged the Pernem Police Inspector with “refusing” to register an FIR. The incident comes days WOMAN ALLEGES… „„Armed group trespassed into the property, assaulted Pramila (55 years) and Vivek (58), outraged her modesty and damaged the property „„Vivek’s wallet and phone was snatched by the assailants „„Pernem PSI sends the victims for medical examination and complaint filed on April 28 „„Pernem PI refuses to register the case „„Pernem police also fails to provide police protection to take the couple safely back to the retreat centre and get their belongings back „„On May 2, Pramila files a complaint with the Women PS after the department took action against three inspectors – Prajyot Phadte (suspended), Lady PI Sandhya Gupta (transferred) and Vikram Naik (issued show cause notice) for allegedly delaying registering FIRs into offences against two teenagers at their respective police stations. In the present case, Pramila has further accused the Pernem PI of warning her to distance herself from the matter given that the goons are politically connected. “…It was really shocking that the PI of Pernem PS refused to lodge an FIR against those who have assaulted me and my husband, tore my clothes in front of 50-70 people, molested me, and attempted to kill me and my husband. The Pernem PI to the reasons best known to him further warned me that if I pursue the matter further then I will be in trouble, as the people involved are highly influential and politically connected,” reads an extract of her complaint letter, copy of which is in possession of The Goan. The business couple and one Ashish Pandey, all of whom are the trustees of Dunagiri Foundation, had taken a >Continued on P5 India slips 11 ranks on Press Row over KTC diverting buses for K’taka campaign Freedom Index, now at 161 Commuters stranded at bus stands as Corporation downsizes Ops on several routes MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS VOICE CONCERN OVER DIP IN INDEX PTI NEW DELHI Media associations in the country have voiced concern over India slipping 11 places to 161st rank in the World Press Freedom Index, 2023, published on Wednesday. Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which publishes a yearly report on press freedom in countries across the world, had last year ranked India at 150 in a survey of 180 countries. “The situation has gone THE REPORT: ‘PROBLEMATIC’ „„The situation has gone from ‘problematic’ to ‘very bad’ in three other countries: Tajikistan (down 1 at 153rd), India (down 11 at 161st) and Turkey (down 16 at 165th) „„For developing democracies in the Global South where deep pockets of inequities exist, the media’s role cannot be understated „„Insecure working conditions can never contribute to a free press from 'problematic' to 'very bad' in three other countries: Tajikistan (down 1 at 153rd), India (down 11 at 161st) and Turkey (down 16 at 165th),” the RSF report said. “The other phenomenon that dangerously restricts the free flow of information is the acquisition of media outlets >Continued on P5 COMMUTERS FACE HARDSHIP IN GOA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI/CANACONA The move of the State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) to divert dozens of its buses to neighbouring Karnataka for election campaigning there allegedly at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) triggered a major row on Wednesday. Reports said the buses were diverted there allegedly for use to ferry people to the venue of an election rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ankola. Nearly 70 buses were leased out for private use, a KTC The KTC buses at the Polem border check post en route to Karnataka. source said, adding that it is within the Corporation’s rules as these buses were hired on payment of prescribed fees. KTC is hoping to earn around Rs 15 lakh, the source added. All these buses sent from Goa were reportedly plying on various routes in the State. Sources said the KTC buses were reportedly drawn from various depots at Mapusa, „„Regular bus commuters faced hardship being stranded at various KTC bus stands „„Large number of people suffered waiting long hours due to lower frequency of bus trips on their daily commuting routes Bicholim-Sanquelim, Porvorim, Vasco, Margao, etc. It was an unusual sight to find dozens of buses proceeding along the NH66 highway towards the Polem check post ON PAGE 2 Commuters from Karnataka left stranded with no buses KTC chief says situation should return to normalcy on Thursday after 10 pm on Tuesday night. The buses were, however, stranded on the route, after the Karnataka RTO at Majali checkpost refused entry to the buses in Karnataka state >Continued on P5