log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 GOA Ethernet Xpress: From humble beginnings to digital leadership IN SHORT >> ED arrests Suhail in land grabbing case PANAJI: The Directorate of Enforcement on September 22 arrested Mohammed Suhail in connection with a large-scale land grabbing racket in Goa. Suhail, who was already lodged at the Colvale Correctional Home under judicial custody, was produced before the Special Court at Merces, which remanded him to ED custody for four days. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 97 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 9 Assault on Kankonkar opens political fault lines in State AAP widens Salcete base, throws down gauntlet in Yuri’s fiefdom >> pg 8 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA BJYM, AAP take battle to next level, file counter complaints NEWS 10 dead as torrential rain paralyses Kolkata, flights disrupted  RULING MLAs BREAK SILENCE, CONDEMN ATTACK  OPPOSITION HINTS AT MINISTER’S INVOLVEMENT AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA Oppn threatens to block Canacona highway Aldona MLA alleges role of minister BJP and Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, have also condemned the attack on the activist. What gives the matter a sharper political edge is the fact that the Lobos have been outspoken on the issue so far, at a time when murmurs are growing that a minister may have been behind the attack. Opposition leaders, without naming names, have pointedly hinted at the involvement of a minister, a speculation that has gained momentum on social media where the silence of most ruling legislators is being seen as “tactical.” Among the Opposition, AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and Congress Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira have publicly suggested that a minister may be involved and called for his dismissal. The coming days are likely to test the government’s resolve, with the demand for action against the perpetrators now carrying a political dimension that could widen fissures within the ruling dispensation. SPORTS Asia Cup: India gears up for spin test against Bangladesh 14 Ganesh Gaonkar is BJP’s candidate for Speaker’s post Files papers with legislative secy Cops to HC: No proof against Pastor, wife In a rare move within the ruling benches, the MLA couple from the coastal belt, Michael and Delilah Lobo, on Tuesday openly condemned the assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar, calling it a dangerous sign of “goondagiri” creeping into Goa’s political landscape. Their outburst stands in stark contrast to the silence of their cabinet colleagues and ruling MLAs, even as social media and Opposition leaders suggest that a minister may have been behind the incident. Kankonkar, who was beaten and humiliated by being smeared with cow dung, has become a symbol of growing intolerance against dissent in Goa. The Opposition has stopped short of naming names, but has dropped enough hints to point towards a minister. Michael Lobo minced no words, warning that the government cannot allow gangs and “goondagiri” to thrive un- 3 shops gutted in Sanquelim blaze Jumbo mess at Goa Approval from PWD Mohanlal, SRK get Nat film awards border unlikely to mandatory for road end until Dussehra digging: Digambar Pissurlem students boycott classes VALPOI: Students of the government school at Pissurlem boycotted classes on Tuesday to protest against the transfer of the school principal, Dr Ulhas Gaonkar, midway into the academic year. Aggrieved over the sudden transfer, parents had threatened to get their children and wards to boycott classes on Tuesday if the order was not cancelled.   >> See pg 3 PANAJI: The Goa government informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that no evidence was found against Pastor Domnic D’Souza of the Siolim-based Five Pillar Church and his wife, Joan, in the 2022 forceful conversion case.  >> See pg 5 BICHOLIM: Three shops were gutted in a major fire at the Sanquelim market in the wee hours of Tuesday, destroying property estimated at Rs 60 lakh. The fire broke out at about 1.30 am, and is initially believed to have been caused by a short circuit. The fire destroyed a grocery store, a cloth shop and another shop.  >> See pg 2 Umpiring legend Dickie Bird no more LONDON: Renowned and much-adored umpire Harold Dickie Bird died at the age of 92. Bird officiated in 66 Tests and 69 ODIs in a long career spanning between 1973 and 1996. In fact, Bird's last Test was the 1996 Lord's Test between India and England.   >> See pg 12 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 31 C 24.6 C 92% TIDES Low: 05.54 High: 00.07 18.12 11.45 CANACONA: Accusing the State government of failing to give a free hand to the police in narrowing down on the kingpin involved in the brutal attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar, the Opposition on Tuesday threatened to block the NH66 highway at Canacona if the kingpin was not arrested. The Opposition, which included Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and AAP Goa President Amit Palekar, addressed a public meeting in Shristhal-Canacona as part of its ‘Goa Against Goondaraj’ campaign across the State. "It's an attack on the peaceful Goenkars. The attack on Rama was bad, but the good thing is BJP’s Ravan Rajya has brought all the Goans together,” said Sardesai. >> See pg 2 der its watch. “Goondagiri shouldn’t be tolerated and we have said this clearly. The government has 28 MLAs plus 5 supporting, so there shouldn’t be any issue in putting such elements in their place,” he said. Lobo alleged that some of the accused were also involved in a previous assault Forest Dept defers capture plan THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI 'Omkar' the wild elephant who strayed from its herd will continue to roam the Goa-Maharashtra border areas of Pernem up until Dussehra with the Forest Department deferring its capture-and-rehabilitate plan until then. The tusker has over the last 10 days kept villagers, particularly farmers in Torxem and adjoining areas of Pernem, on their toes is  unlikely to find until October 2 the company of more elephants to help in finding his herd. According to Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane the Goa government has sought help from Karnataka which has the expertise needed to capture and rehabilitate the tusker. The Karnataka forest minister has already issued directions to his department but more  elephants necessary  to execute this plan are not available until the Dussehra festival. "The operation requires six on the former Mandrem sarpanch and accused them of trying to prove they are “above the law” . Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo described the assault as a direct attack on democracy. “It’s very wrong what has happened. To hit someone and smear him with cow dung just because he spoke against PANAJI: Rane said the Goa government has received no proposal as of now to shift elephants straying into habitations to Vantara, the Reliance-run zoo. He was reacting to a query on the recent disclosure by the Maharashtra Forest Minister that shifting he elephants from the Tillari region to Vantara was under consideration. “If a proposal comes, we can think about it,” he added. to seven trained elephants, which are currently engaged in the Dussehra festival in Karnataka," Rane said,  adding that he has been in discussion with the Karnataka minister to work on it as soon as >Continued on P9 somebody is not acceptable in our peace-loving Goa. If you want to counter someone, use words, not violence,” she said. She added: “In a democracy, whether ruling or Opposition, everybody has a voice. Silencing dissent through attacks is not the way forward.” Incidentally, Santa Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes of the CRACKS WHIP AMID GROWING ANGER THE GOAN I NETWORK No proposal to shift Omkar to Vantara: Rane MAPUSA: Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the police investigation into the brutal attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar, alleging that a minister, whom he termed the “Godfather General,” may be the real mastermind behind the assault. Ferreira criticised the police for claiming that Zenito Cardozo was the mastermind. >> See pg 2 MAPUSA With public anger spilling onto the streets and even coastal sarpanchas threatening protests over the State’s crumbling roads, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat on Tuesday moved into damage-control mode, imposing strict curbs on road excavations. Kamat announced that no government department or agency will be allowed to dig up roads without prior clearance from the PWD’s Principal Chief Engineer (PCE). “Newly laid roads will not be touched unless the PCE gives a green signal. These powers rest only with the PCE, not even executive engineers. Otherwise, we end up with today’s chaos,” he said. The PWD minister admitted that the condition of roads was “pathetic” and accepted responsibility for urgent repairs. However, he ruled out large-scale hotmixing immediately, citing wet weather and non-functional hotmix STRICT CURBS „„No govt dept or agency will be allowed to dig up roads without prior clearance from PWD’s Principal Chief Engineer „„Newly laid roads will not be touched unless PCE gives a green signal „„Powers rest only with PCE, not even executive engineers plants. “Patchwork has begun wherever the situation is bad. We are also using jet patchers, but in rains, even they don’t hold up,” Kamat said. According to him, constituency-wise road assessments have been completed, classifying them into “worst, better and good.” He insisted that while bad stretches exist, they are “spread out and not in large >Continued on P9 Purple Fest may get a ‘starry’ touch with Aamir THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he State government is hopeful that Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, along with the cast of his film Sitare Zameen Par -- a story about intellectually challenged basketball players -- will attend the International Purple Fest 2025 scheduled in Goa from October 9 to 12. Minister for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Subhash Phal Dessai, accompanied by Secretary of the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities Taha Haaziq and others met Khan T A performance by persons with disabilities. (File photo) at his residence to brief him about the festival and extend an invitation to grace the annual event. “He gave us two hours of his time, took detailed information about the Purple Fest and even called up his actors from Sitare Zameen Par to encourage them to participate. He told us that though his schedule is tight, he would try to come at least for a day to attend the festival in Goa,” Dessai told reporters at Porvorim on Tuesday. The event will also see the presence of Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, who has assured full support of the Centre for strengthening PwD-friendly infrastructure in Goa. Dessai, who extended a formal invitation to Nadda, briefed him on the success of the previous two editions of the Purple Fest, describing it as a pioneering initiative to celebrate and empower PwDs. “The Union Minister was impressed with the commitment and innovative approach of Goa government. He praised the exemplary work in promoting the welfare and inclusion of PwDs and expressed keen interest in attending the Purple Fest. He also lauded Goa’s efforts in setting a national benchmark for disability inclusion,” Dessai said. Nadda also underlined the importance of health-focused programs for PwDs and promised coordinated support from various Central ministries to further the cause of inclusion. FORMAL MOMENT: Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, accompanied by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Cabinet colleagues, files his nomination papers with Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman on Tuesday. Narayan Pissurlenkar THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finally made public its choice for the Speaker's post -- Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar. Gaonkar, who incidentally was the pro-tem Speaker after the 2022 elections, filed his papers at the office of the Legislature Secretary, Namrata Ulman in the Assembly Complex on Tuesday morning. The formality  became a display of power-play by the ruling coalition with Chief NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred National Awards for acting to Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey and Rani Mukerji while Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke lifetime achievement award in a ceremony that doffed its hat to mainstream popular cinema. Minister Pramod Sawant, his cabinet colleagues and several legislators from the treasury benches making their presence felt as Gaonkar filed his papers.  He is expected to be elected on the back of the BJP government's brute 33-7 majority in the House of 40. All the three Independent legislators are also backing the ruling party. Despite the writing on the wall the feeble seven-member Opposition has refused to cow down and decided to contest >Continued on P9 Filmmakers Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who took home the best film prize for ‘12th Fail’, and Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehra, who received the award for ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Kahaani’ for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, completed the starry ensemble at the 71st National Film Awards.  >> See pg 10