log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 GOA 13 pages PRICE ` 6 Margao’s parking project to provide space for only 70 4-wheelers, 137 2-wheelers IN SHORT >> Sex racket: Resort gets show cause notice MAPUSA: The Tourism Department has issued a show cause notice to the owner of Maior Roma resort by Jolly Jolly Lester, Vagator for cancellation of registration of the resort for conducting prostitution activities in it.  >> See pg 3 Govt to e-auction 1.17 MT ore in Oct PANAJI: The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has identified a total 1.17 million tonnes of iron ore during the 29th phase of e-auction to be held from October 4-6.  >> See pg 3 Signature campaign to save FM Rainbow PANAJI: An online signature petition has been launched urging the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur to ‘Keep FM Rainbow Goa on AIR”.   >> See pg 3 2 booked on charges of extortion CANACONA: Canacona Police registered an FIR against one Basuri Desai and another person on charges of extortion, stalking and defamation, following a complaint from Dorety D’Souza of Shellim in Loliem-Canacona.  >> See pg 3 INDIA bloc’s rally in Bhopal next month NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc on Wednesday decided to hold their first joint public meeting in Bhopal in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh in the first week of October, and said the constituent parties will start seat-sharing talks at the earliest.   >> See pg 8 SC refuses to interfere with firecrackers ban NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the Delhi government’s order putting a comprehensive ban on manufacturing, storage, sale and bursting of firecrackers in the city, saying people’s health is important.  >> See pg 8 Army colonel among 3 killed in J&K SRINAGAR: An Army Colonel commanding a battalion, a Major of a unit and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in J&K.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 27 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 80% TIDES Low: High: 04:11 16:53 10:47 22:42 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 88 GOA Mapusa’s parking woes: Civic body fails the test RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 9 INFO Foods to get rid of yeast infection   RESOLUTION TO RENAME INDIA AS BHARAT NO   ALL-PARTY MEET ON SEPT 17 AHEAD OF SESSION AGENCIES NEW DELHI The Centre on Wednesday released a ‘tentative list’ of the agenda for Parliament’s special session from September 18 to 22. The tentative agenda included two bills -The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Press and Registeration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 - to be taken up in the Lok Sabha. They were passed in the Rajya Sabha on August 3. On the other hand, Rajya Sabha MPs are set to discuss The Post Office Bill, 2023 and The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. These two bills were introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 10. Although there were specu- THE ‘TENTATIVE AGENDA’ „„The tentative agenda included two bills -The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 - to be taken up in the Lok Sabha „„Rajya Sabha MPs are set to discuss The Post Office Bill, 2023 and The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. These two bills were introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 10 lations about the government proposing a ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, there was no mention of it in the tentative list shared by the Centre today. Ahead of the special session, there was also specu- lation about the government bringing a resolution to rename India as Bharat. Apart from formal parliamentary business, a discussion will be held on the subject ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Sam- vidhan Sabha - Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings”, as per the government’s notice. The government has called an all-party meeting on September 17, a day before the special session of Parliament begins. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that invitations had been sent through e-mail to all leaders of opposition parties to attend the meeting. The special session of Parliament, from September 18 to 22, was announced by the Pralhad Joshi on August 31. At the time, the agenda for it was under wraps, triggering speculation and criticism from the Opposition. According to officials, the session will begin in the old Parliament building and shift to the new structure the next day. SPORTS Confident that this will be good season for FC Goa: Marquez Meet with coastal MLAs on Goa Shack Policy today THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte has convened a meeting with the coastal MLAs in Thursday to discuss the Goa Shack Policy 2023-26. This gathering, an official said, will present a valuable opportunity to engage in fruitful dialogues, exchange ideas, and collaborate towards further enhancing the tourism industry and the benefits it brings to the locals. “By involving coastal MLAs in shaping the trajectory of tourism policies, the government aims to ensure that the voices and perspectives of local representatives are heard and considered, ultimately leading to more inclusive and sustainable development for the State,” he said. The Tourism Department further said the policy is developed through extensive discussions with different shack owner associations and that its implementation aims to address several related issues. Under this new policy, shack owners are now >Continued on P5 13 Ponda teacher booked for assaulting student CLASS 8 PUPIL WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA In yet another offence and controversy involving teachers in the State, a high school teacher from Ponda has been booked by Ponda police on charges of assaulting a Class 8 student who had to be admitted to hospital. The incident is reported to have occurred on Tuesday, when the student had allegedly brought to notice of the teacher that there were some spots on his trousers. The teacher got enraged and is alleged to have assaulted the student, causing him injuries. The parents later admitted the boy in the hospital and got him treated. The police had taken the teacher into custody on Tuesday but did not take any action as there was no complaint filed against him. The parents, however, filed a complaint on Wednesday morning and the offence was booked against the teacher. WHAT HAPPENED „„The incident is reported to have occurred on Tuesday, when the student had allegedly brought to notice of the teacher that there were some spots on his trousers „„The teacher got enraged and is alleged to have assaulted the student, causing him injuries „„The parents later admitted the boy in the hospital and got him treated Ponda PI Tushar Lotlikar is investigating the matter. This is the fifth controversy involving teachers in the State, with two of these cases involving sexual harassment by physical education teachers. In the first case, Ramesh >Continued on P5 Siolim bar closed Hijab row: Dabolim school students Mardol PI among for serving beyond protest, seek justice for principal 12 PIs transferred permissible hours CLAIM THEY WERE NOT FORCED TO FOLLOW MUSLIM RITUALS ahead of Chaturthi CASE BOOKED UNDER EXCISE DUTY ACT THE GOAN I NETWORK RULES IN FORCE PANAJI The excise officials on Monday night conducted a raid at El Patron Café & Bar, located in Siolim coastal village, suspecting that it was serving liquor beyond the permissible hours. Officials, wishing anonymity, revealed that the establishment had permission to serve liquor until 11 pm, with the option to extend it for an additional fee. Since it allegedly continued serving beyond the permissible time, a case has been booked under the Goa Excise Duty Act. The operators, Akshit Shetty and Uday Sen are under inquiry, and the premises remained closed on Tuesday. “The establishment holds permission to serve liquor till 11pm. As per the rules, an establishment owner needs permission with an additional fee of Rs 1 lakh to operate till 1am and Rs 5 lakh to serve liquor till 3-4 am. However in the present case, it still continued beyond the permissible time as a result of which a case under the Goa Excise Duty Act has been booked,” the official said. „„The establishment holds permission to serve liquor till 11pm „„As per the rules, an establishment owner needs permission with an additional fee of Rs 1 lakh to operate till 1am and Rs 5 lakh to serve liquor till 3-4 am „„However in the present case, it still continued beyond the permissible time as a result of which a case under the Goa Excise Duty Act has been booked Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad and the officer at Excise Station in Mapusa remained unavailable for comments despite calls by The Goan. Sources claim that the operators have been openly violating the rules by publicly announcing extended operating hours, which are also available on its website. The Goan also possesses a bill >Continued on P5 7 VILLAGES IN KOZHIKODE DECLARED CONTAINMENT ZONES NEW DELHI India’s southern state of Kerala shut some schools, offices and public transport on Wednesday in a race to stop the spread of the rare and deadly Nipah virus, which has killed two people. An adult and a child were still infected in hospital, and more than 130 people have been tested for the virus, spread via contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs or people, a state health official said. “We are focusing on tracing 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Suspense continues over agenda of special session Kerala shuts schools and offices to curb Nipah virus AGENCIES The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Fifth case of virus reported Kozhikode: A 24 year-old health worker has become Kerala’s fifth confirmed Nipah case since its recent outbreak, as the government stepped up its efforts to cure a 9 year-old boy suffering from the deadly infection by ordering the only anti-viral treatment available. The government has ordered monoclonal antibody from ICMR to treat the child. It is the only available anti-viral treatment for Nipah virus infection, though it has not been clinically proven yet. contacts of infected persons early and isolating anyone with symptoms,” said the state’s Health Minister Veena George, who told reporters the virus detected in Kerala >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Students of the Keshav Smriti Higher Secondary School, Dabolim on Wednesday morning staged a protest against the suspension of the principal, Shankar Gaonkar. The students holding placards marched on the roads demanding justice for the school and the principal. While the local media was not informed about the protest, videos of the protest showing students with placards went viral on social media. According to the videos, the students were seen stating that the school was not responsible for the workshop and that no one was forced to follow Muslim rituals. Students claimed that they had been a part of the workshop and that they had worn the Hijab willingly without any pressure from the school or its principal and staff. The students demanded justice for the Principal Shankar Gaonkar of the Keshav Smriti HSS who had recently been suspended after parents and activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had confronted the school and had demanded to know why students had been sent for the GAUDE GIVEN CHARGE OF SECURITY UNIT THE GOAN I NETWORK Students of the Keshav Smriti HSS while staging a protest on Wednesday afternoon. workshop. There had been allegations that students were forced to perform Muslim rituals during the workshop. It may be recalled that photos of students from the Keshav Smriti HSS and the Gov- ernment High School at Baina had participated in a workshop and photos of female students wearing a Hijab and boys cleansing their hands and feet had gone viral on social media. PANAJI Mardol Police Station incharge Mohan Gaude has been transferred to the Security Unit days after the District Court questioned the local police’s investigation into the fatal accident in Banastarim. He is among 12 Police Inspectors who have been transferred ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, by an order from the office of Director General of Police on Wednesday. Gaude is being replaced by Satish Gawade, currently posted at the Goa Police Welfare Society in Altinho. While granting conditional bail to AAP President Amit Palekar earlier this month, the Additional Sessions Judge questioned Mardol police’s silence in the face of accusations of evidence destruction, misleading police, and even harbouring the real offender—all of which allegedly took place in front of the station in-charge. “The material on record makes it crystal clear that all the offences namely destruction of evidence, giving false information, harbouring real offender, etc, were commit- ted in the presence of the in-charge of the Mardol PS and the police did nothing. The culprits were honourably and mysteriously allowed to retreat from the PS. This is alarming,” the Court had observed. Director General of Police Jaspal Singh also hinted that those misleading the initial agency’s investigation should have been a part of the probe. Among the other transfers, Diago Gracias has been transferred to Cuncolim PS from PHQ Panaji while Harish Gawas’ current posting at SB Centre Bicholim has been swapped with Escort Cell Mapusa Incharge Navin Dessai. PI Security Unit Sanjay Dalvi has been transferred to Margao Traffic Cell, replacing Gautam Salunke who will take over the charge of PHQ Panaji. Devendra Pingle is transferred to GRP E Coy from Cyber Crime PS whereas Porvorim PI Anant Gaonkar is shunted to GPWS, Altinho. PI Siolim Coastal Security Rahul Parab will be the new Porvorim PI while Vikas Deykar at the Crime Branch at Ribandar is given the additional charge of Cyber Crime PS. Media trial may deflect ‘cause of justice’: SC Asks MHA to draft manual for police briefing in criminal cases PTI NEW DELHI media trial may result in “deflection of cause of justice”, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday and directed the Union Home Ministry to prepare within three months a comprehensive manual on how police should brief journalists about criminal cases. The top court said there is an urgent need for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) about how journalists should be briefed as there has been an upsurge in reporting on criminal offences in print, electronic and social media since the last guidelines on A K E Y CO U RT O B SE R VAT I O N S „„There is an urgent need for a SOP about how journalists should be briefed as there has been an upsurge in reporting on criminal offences in print, electronic and social media since the last guidelines in 2010 „„Any disclosure by police at a “premature stage”, when the investigation is on, triggers a media trial that affects administration of justice since it could also influence the judge conducting the trial „„Media reporting in matters involving commission of crimes involves several aspects of public interest „„At a basic level, the fundamental right to free speech and expression is directly both in terms of rights of media to portray and disseminate news, views and information and the right of the viewing public and readers to receive a diversity of opinions the subject were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2010. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said a delicate balance has to be maintained between the media’s fundamental right to free speech and expression, the right of the accused to fair investigation, and the privacy of the victim. The top court also asked the Directors General of Police (DGP) of all states to submit their suggestions to the MHA within a month on how to go about preparing the manual. “All DGPs, in a month, should communicate to Ministry of Home Affairs, their suggestions for guidelines... National Human Rights Commission’s suggestions may also be taken,” the bench, also comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, said. The SC said any disclosure by police at a “premature stage”, when the investigation is on, triggers a media trial >Continued on P5