log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 25, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.188 Govt to accept fresh applications for DSS scheme after notification 2 GOA Mormugao civic body to impose sanitization fees on vendors 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO The power of words: Social media’s impact on obesity Christmas Greetings THE GOAN wishes its readers, advertisers and well-wishers a Merry Christmas. May the love of Jesus fill your homes. JOY TO THE WORLD OUR OFFICES ARE CLOSED TODAY Parish Priest Fr Walter de Sa places baby Jesus in the crib at the stroke of midnight at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji on Tuesday. Narayan Pissurlenkar The offices of THE GOAN will remain closed on December 25 on account of Christmas holiday, hence there will be no edition of this newspaper dated December 26, 2024. IN SHORT >> Arlekar appointed Kerala Governor PANAJI: Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar has been appointed as the new Kerala Governor, replacing Arif Mohammed Khan, who will now serve in Bihar. Ex-Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla is now the Manipur Governor. Other gubernatorial appointments include ex-Army chief Vijay Kumar Singh as the new Mizoram Governor and Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati as Odisha Governor. Midnight masses usher in Christmas THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Christmas may be one of the most exploited of Goa’s festive seasons to woo the tourists and soar the footfalls but on Tuesday-Wednesday midnight it was the deeply spiritual and solemn Eucharistic celebrations that pulled the crowds of native Goans by the thousands. Like every year, a majority of Goan Catholics stuck to the Cops strengthen presence in coastal belt PANAJI: With heavy footfalls in the coastal belt this festive period, North Goa police have deployed an additional 100 personnel to assist 300 personnel/officers already stationed along the stretch for security. A separate arrangement has also been made for traffic management. “We have drawn the extra force from Bicholim, Valpoi police stations as well as office staff,” North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal told The Goan. spiritual, heading to parish churches and other venues for the solemn midnight mass services to herald the memory of the birth of Jesus Christ over two millennia ago. Bells chiming at churches and chapels, besides colourful fireworks displays in a few places, announced the start of Christmas day, dot at midnight with the Goan Catholic community being led in the spiritual celebrations by Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrao who presided over the midnight mass celebrated outside the Basilica at Old Goa. At most of the venues, the >Continued on P11 13 SPORTS Rohit Sharma dismisses knee injury fears 16 Handcuffs, CCTV cams: Cops ensure maximum security for Suleman POLICE ON ALERT DURING MANDATORY PROCEDURES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa Police has intensified security measures for notorious criminal Suleman Siddiqui Khan by keeping him handcuffed while being taken for medical check-ups and interrogation to prevent any escape attempts. “He is a hardened criminal. We are taking no chances and ensuring he doesn’t misuse the law or attempt to flee during mandatory procedures,” a senior officer said, speaking to The Goan. Suleman, arrested on Monday on charges of escaping from the lock-up at Crime Branch in Ribandar, is also under constant CCTV surveillance at the Panaji police station lock-up. “As per protocol, one head constable and three constables have been deployed to monitor him, a system applicable to other accused in police custody as well. We are also monitoring him through CCTVs installed around,” the officer added. The police are also adhering to his routine medical TOUGH MEASURES „„Suleman handcuffed while being taken for medical check-ups and interrogation to prevent escape attempts „„One head constable, three constables deployed to monitor him „„He is also being monitored through CCTVs at the Panaji police station „„Routine medical checkups conducted every 48 hours check-ups every 48 hours while intensifying interrogations during his seven-day police custody. Sources revealed that Suleman is not cooperating with the investigation even as he is expected to be brought faceto-face with AAP President Amit Palekar over the leaked viral videos. The department is probing the origins of the latest surfaced video of Suleman and the alleged Rs 3 crore deal with former IRB constable Amit Naik, accused of facilitating his escape. SECOND DAY OF PALEKAR PROBE ENDS IN A JIFFY >> See pg 5 Meanwhile, Suleman’s wife Afsana is also being interrogated by the Goa Police over the alleged land grab registered at Mapusa police station. The accused couple was on Monday evening brought to Goa from Kerala where they were detained for two days. The police teams also seized incriminating evidence from Suleman’s residences in Karwar and Kerala, revealing that he had made huge investments.