log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY MARCH 7, 2025 page 6 Suzuki’s scooter surge: From struggler to strong contender Nissan Magnite Facelift brings fresh design and premium features IN SHORT >> DoE to scrutinise fee structure of unaided schools PANAJI: The Directorate of Education has said that unaided educational institutions will have to submit their fee structure for the upcoming academic year 2025-26 for approval. As per guidelines, unaided schools can hike their annual fees in the maximum range of 10-15 per cent, of the total approved fee charged during the previous year.  >> See pg 3 Goa wins PATWA int'l travel awards PANAJI: Goa has been awarded “Destination of the Year, India" at the PATWA International Travel Awards 2025 in Berlin. The award was presented under the Destinations Category with Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte also honoured with the Tourism Minister of the Year – India award.  >> See pg 7 Locals, forest babus clash in Khotigao CANACONA: The two-week confrontation between locals of Khotigao and the forest department has now intensified over construction works in the forested area. While the department has filed a complaint against 3 locals for obstructing construction of an anti-poaching camp, locals accused the department of illegally carrying out a construction.  >> See pg 3 8 held for online cricket betting MAPUSA: In a major crackdown on online betting, the Mapusa Police arrested eight individuals involved in betting on Champions Trophy cricket matches in the early hours of March 6. Acting on information, a police team raided the place in Moira and caught the accused red-handed.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 35.2 C Min: 25.2 C Humidity: 69% TIDES Low: 10.27 High: 02.59 23.06 18.20 @thegoanonline 14 pages Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 258 Instagram.com/thegoanonline CHHETRI COMES OUT OF INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT  >> P13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Human sacrifice? 5-yr-old Firms failing to advertise jobs in Goa to be fined girl found buried in Usgao CHILDLESS M’RASHTRA COUPLE PLOTTED MURDER, SAY COPS; BURIED BODY RETRIEVED METERS FROM HOUSE THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA In a shocking incident, a 5-year-old girl who had gone missing in Usgao on Wednesday evening is alleged to have been murdered by a couple from Maharashtra and buried barely a few metres from the girl’s house. The accused couple, Babasaheb Alat (52) and his wife Pooja (40), who are natives of Miraj-Maharashtra and were living in a rented house at Usgao, are alleged to have killed the child as part of a human sacrifice to enable the childless couple to conceive a child. They have been detained in this connection and a police team along with a forensic team later retrieved the body of the girl on Thursday night. According to the Ponda DySP Shivram Vaingankar, USGAO SHOCKER: WHAT HAPPENED „„Mother complains to Ponda police that her elder daughter aged 5 years is missing „„Police register offence of kidnapping, begin inquiries with neighbours „„Police team reaches site; accused couple pretend to help police to find out whereabouts of missing girl „„On Thursday, police again go to the spot; find couple’s behaviour suspi- cious, question them „„Couple allegedly admits having killed girl as part of human sacrifice „„The couple was married for a number of years, but did not bear a child „„Believing in black magic, they are said to have sacrificed the child in the hope that the wife would conceive the incident occurred on Wednesday, when the mother complained to Ponda police that her elder daughter aged 5 years had gone missing from their home. Ponda police registered an offence of kidnapping and be- gan inquiries. When a police team reached the site, the accused couple pretended to help the police to find out the whereabouts of the missing girl. On Thursday morning, police went to the spot again for (According to Ponda DySP Shivram Vaingankar) Sawant vows new Porvorim temple once site is finalised an inquiry, when they found the couple’s behaviour to be suspicious and began questioning them. The couple then admitted having killed the girl as part of a human sacrifice. According to the police, the couple was married for a number of years, but did not bear a child. Believing in black magic, the couple is said to have sacrificed the child in the hope that the wife would conceive. The mother of the child is a Goan and was married in Ratnagiri. She was living at her maternal home, as there were constant fights between her and her husband. The grandmother was taking care of the two minor girls. The murder of the minor girl has shocked the village and Usgao-Ganje Sarpanch Ramnath Dangui appealed to people not to be misled by witchcraft and black magic.   mandates advertisements in local media Govt   Employment exchange to be informed THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Private companies in Goa who hold recruitment drives without advertising the vacancies in the State will henceforth be penalised and fined, according to an amendment to the Employment Exchanges (compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, approved by the Cabinet on Thursday. HALF DONE CONVENTION CENTER AT PATTO TO BE 'LEASED' FOR COMPLETION, USE >> See pg 3 Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the amendment provides for  levying fines on such rogue companies which will increase for repeat violations. Companies with a  workforce strength of up to 400 will be fined Rs 5,000 for the first GUSHING NIGHTMARE SAYS ATTEMPTS MADE TO FUEL CONTROVERSY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the government will immediately begin reconstructing the Khapreshwar temple at Porvorim after the new committee which comprises local devotees identifies the new location. Sawant who was addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting decried what he called were attempts to fuel a controversy and said he too had religious and sentimental attachment to Dev  Khapreshwar and often paid obeisance and received 'prasad'. "We have removed the idol with all due rituals and formalities. Also rituals and 'pujas' are being performed daily. The committee and local devotees within the next couple of days will identify the most suitable area to relocate the temple and work will begin immediately thereafter," Sawant said. "A new 2-year-old banyan violation and Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 for the second and third violation, respectively. Those companies that employ more than 400 workers will be fined  Rs 20,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 for the first, second and third violation respective- ly, Sawant said. “The companies will have to advertise in local media as well as inform the local employment exchange,” he said. Meanwhile, in other decisions the Cabinet  gave >Continued on P9 HC directs Pollution Board to seal 20 premises in Agonda THE GOAN I NETWORK PORVORIM: The Dev Shri Khapreshwar Temple committee has stated that any site for the reconstruction of the temple, which was removed for the elevated corridor project in Porvorim, would need to be discussed with committee members and locals before responding to the government. Addressing a news conference in Socorro on Thursday, the Temple Committee President Kartik Kudnekar clarified that none of the persons who had gone to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte was a member of the Khapreshwar Temple committee.  >> See pg 3 crowd of local residents, civil society and devotees during their drive to uproot the banyan tree, remove the idol and demolish the temple which came the way of the flyover. The frenzied reaction of the crowd had forced the authorities to halt the demolition and avoid a law-and-order situation. However, the temple was eventually demolished in the wee hours of Monday and the idol has been kept in safe custody in a 'container'. PANAJI: In a development expected to help the under liquidation Mapusa Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd monetise assets and pay off depositors, the defunct bank’s headquarters at Mapusa ‘Nandadeep’ is to be bought by the Goa government at its upset value price of Rs 25 crore. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that his Cabinet on Thursday approved the deal.  “It will help the liquidator of the bank to pay back its depositors. It is why we took the decision,” Sawant said. Responding to a question, Sawant said the government has evaluated the asset which is located in the heart of Mapusa town and the Cabinet has approved the Rs 25 crore price quoted by the bank although it is slightly higher than the government evaluation. ALL WERE OPERATING WITHOUT CONSENT Panel to consult devotees on location tree will also be planted adjacent to the temple as translocating the old one will not be proper," Sawant said. “Our reverence and devotion to Dev Khapreshwar is the same as any other devotee," Sawant asserted even as he revealed that the old committee which had consented to the relocation has abstained from identifying the new location for over a year. Authorities had on Sunday faced the wrath of a large Govt to buy HQ of MUCB for `25 crore Water gushes out from a ruptured pipeline at the SocorroSangolda junction on Thursday. Repair work is being undertaken on a war footing and supply is expected to be resumed shortly. (Report on pg 3)  Narayan Pissurlenkar PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to seal 20 establishments in Agonda that are operating without mandatory consent.  The directive on Thursday followed the Board’s submission confirming that 24 units including resorts in Agonda, have been functioning without the required permissions. Of these, 20 units were also ordered to suspend operations.  The Division Bench comprising Justice M S Karnik and Justice Nivedita Mehta instructed the officials to seal the premises and directed the Deputy Collector to ensure that the procedure was carried out in accordance with the law.  The Bench has also sought the government’s response regarding its earlier assurance on the final notification of the draft turtle management plan. The State is asked to submit a reply by March 12 which is when the Court will hear the matter. Meanwhile, in her submission to the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday, GSPCB Member Secretary Shamila Monteiro stated that officials inspected the units based on data provided by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). During the inspection, multiple units were found operating under some serial number references and 24 units were found to be functioning without the GSPCB’s consent.  “Out of the 24 units, four have applied for consent, which is being processed, while the remaining 20 have been issued directions to suspend operations. Letters have also been issued to eight units to register under the White Category, and one such application has already been received for registration,” Monteiro submitted to the Court, >Continued on P9 Thousands set to keep date with Walking Pilgrimage Robotics & coding education BR MALVINO ALFONSO OCD THE GOAN I PANAJI T housands of people will participate in the 7th Annual Walking Pilgrimage (Bhavarthachi Yatra) conducted by the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman at the Old Sancoale Church on March 9. The pilgrimage will commence at 2 am from five designated centres: Bambolim, Neura, Cansaulim, Verna, and Vasco. At 5 am, there will be Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament in Sancoale conducted by the Desterro Parish, followed by the Eucharistic celebration, which will be presided over by Archbishop of A file photo of a Walking Pilgrimage to Sancoale Church. Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão. The homily will be delivered by Bishop Simião Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdi- ocese of Goa and Daman. The theme for this year's Walking Pilgrimage is “As Pilgrims of Hope, Let us proclaim the Good News.” In a video message released by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM), Cardinal Ferrão invited the Catholic faithful to take part in this significant event. “This pilgrimage is more than just a physical walk. It is a journey of the soul to be undertaken in a spirit of penance and a powerful expression of our unity as the Church," said Cardinal Ferrão. “In a world that is often restless, distracted, and aimless, we are invited to focus on what is needed most: to set aside time for prayer, personal conversion, and spiritual renewal.” Archbishop Ferrão con- tinued, “Let this pilgrimage be a moment of grace when we deepen our faith through prayer and reflection, renew our hope in God’s mercy, and strengthen our love by growing in compassion and service to others. For they will know we are Christians by our love." He also addressed the youth, urging them to join with enthusiasm: “A special word to our young people: I urge you to walk this path with enthusiasm, intensity, and devotion. Let us come together as a synodal Church, walking together, listening to God’s voice, and opening our hearts >Continued on P9 set for big boost in schools 200 SCHOOLS TO OFFER ADVANCED CURRICULUM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI For the coming academic year 2025-26, the State government has roped in 200 ‘lead schools’ to offer advanced curriculum in  robotics  and coding subjects to over 15,000 students with special interest and talent in the coding and robotics. The new  robotics  and coding syllabus was introduced in the academic year 2021-22, for over 20,000 students studying in government and aided schools for Class VI to VIII. According to sources, for the year 2022-23, nearly 3000 students from Class VI, VII and VIII had enrolled to study the advanced curriculum as an elective subject covering 60 ‘Lead Schools’, while the number went upto 7,700 in 2023-24 and it further jumped to 10,000 students in the ongoing term. The curriculum to be taught after school hours, once a week, will see engineering graduates and professionals invited as “teach for Goa” fellows to reach the advanced syllabus. Project Management Unit (PMU) Director Vijay Borges in a communication to the Director Education, on March 4, has said that for the upcoming academic year, 162 Lead Schools from last academic >Continued on P9