log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY JULY 2, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 15 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 8 Assagao saga: Govt may not wait for Centre’s order shunting DGP Pedestrian safety ignored, parking woes frustrate South district hospital visitors GOA MLA, taxi operators meet SP over issues with GoaMiles INFO Six signs it’s time for a face peel DGP SHOULD BE BOOKED FOR ABETMENT, SAYS FERREIRA THE GOAN I NETWORK IN SHORT >> Smart EV buses begin Ops in Panaji PANAJI: Smart EV buses equipped with advanced ticketing systems kickstarted operations in Panaji on Monday. These buses will operate alongside private buses on the same routes. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that old buses will not be stopped. (See photo on pg 5) GCZMA demolishes Anjuna garment store MAPUSA: In a significant enforcement of Coastal Regulation Zone regulations, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority undertook the demolition of a commercial structure at Praiso-vaddo in Anjuna. This action was part of a broader initiative to crack down on illegal constructions.  >> See pg 3 PANAJI As demands for Director General of Police Jaspal Singh's transfer and charging him with abetment in the house demolition case are intensifying, reliable sources have revealed that the State government has expressed utter disappointment over the incident. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has reportedly termed the incident as an embarrassment to Goa. However, he remained unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts by The Goan to contact him. Sources further revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently examining the report from the State government which has given details of allegations against DGP Singh, the Assagao house demolition saga, etc. While the MHA's decision is awaited, it is learnt that Goa government is unlikely to wait Pooja was in Amritsar, Himachal while police searched in Mumbai THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI While the Goa Police had dispatched a team to Mumbai to locate the main accused in the Assagao house demolition case Pooja Sharma, she was hiding in Amritsar and Himachal Pradesh. Sharma, a lawyer by profession, disclosed this herself as she applied for anticipatory bail before the Principal Sessions Court, catching the investigation team off guard. for a prolonged period and might relieve DGP before the Assembly session begins on July 15. “The incident has brought In her six-page application filed through her lawyer in Goa, Sharma, described herself as a ‘peace-loving and law-abiding citizen’ while vehemently denying all allegations against her. She pleaded with the Court for relief, citing her responsibility towards her two minor children, who she claims are dependent on her constant presence. “The applicant is not involved in any of the offenses alleged in the FIR or the complaint on which the FIR embarrassment to the State. If the transfer order takes time, the government might relieve him before the session. Let the transfer order come later,” PORVORIM: Panaji police have cracked two major thefts at jewellery shops in the capital city and have arrested one person from an interstate criminal gang in this connection.  >> See pg 5 NEW DELHI: Jet fuel or ATF price was hiked by 1.2 per cent while that of commercial LPG used by hotels and restaurants was cut by Rs 30 per 19-kg cylinder in line with international oil price trends. WEATHER >> Max: 31.6 C Min: 25.5 C Humidity: 86% TIDES Low: High: 01:24 13:47 08:48 19:00 said sources. However, despite the controversy, the government has so far remained silent on why action is not taken against THE GOAN I NETWORK Rape charges against bizman quashed Commercial LPG price cut by `  0 3 >Continued on P5 Terekhol to finally get power supply from Goa Cops crack jewellery thefts, one nabbed PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has quashed the order of the Special Court constituted under the POCSO Act, which had dismissed the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit’s claim that a businessman was a victim of a honey trap by directing rape charges against him.  >> See pg 3 is based. The applicant has been wrongly implicated,” it stated. The Court has scheduled the matter for hearing on July 3 which is when the Special Investigation Team of the Crime Branch is also directed to submit the case diary. Sharma, who holds an LLM degree and practiced law until ten years ago when she left the profession to focus on her family, maintained that she has not SEASON’S DELICACY: Edible wild mushrooms create a buzz in the Panjim market on Monday. Known locally as ‘olmi’ this delicacy, popular among Goans, is sold at Rs 500 per lot.  Narayan Pissurlenkar India’s June rainfall 11% below normal, reveals IMD statistics PTI NEW DELHI India recorded below-normal rainfall in June, with the deficit standing at 11 percent, the highest in five years, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. According to the IMD data, the country received 147.2 mm of rainfall against a normal of 165.3 mm for the month, the seventh lowest since 2001. June rainfall accounts for 15 percent of the total precipitation of 87 cm recorded during the four-month monsoon sea- son in the country. After making an early onset over Kerala and the N-E region and progressing normally up to Maharashtra, the monsoon lost momentum, extending the wait for rains in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and other States. PERNEM After having to depend on neighbouring Maharashtra for its power supply since Liberation, Terekhol will finally receive power supply from Goa from July 2. Power supply to the village will be inaugurated by Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar on Tuesday. Electricity was being supplied to Terekhol village from Sindhudurg area of Maharashtra, since it was contiguous with Maharashtra and geographically separated from Goa by the Terekhol river. The absence of a bridge over Terekhol River had made it difficult to provide electricity cables and water pipelines from Keri to Terekhol. The government then decided to supply electricity to Terekhol village by laying an underground power cable through Terekhol river in 2021. Arolkar had been following up in the matter and the project has finally been completed. The underground power cables which will provide electricity to Terekhol will be inaugurated on Tuesday. Singh including his removal from the post. Meanwhile, MLA Carlos Ferreira met Sawant on Monday evening demanding that the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation and a judicial probe be initiated against DGP. He insisted that the judicial inquiry should be conducted by a retired High Court judge and should not involve currently serving police officers. “There must be a fair investigation. According to the protocol, the DGP should not remain in his position because there is a possibility he could influence the probe. He should be booked for abetment in the demolition case also besides other disciplinary action," Ferreira stated. He further said that action against Singh should be swift, regardless of whether Goa police currently have a replacement for the highest officer. When asked if the State >Continued on P5 SPORTS EURO 2024: France eases past Belgium to enter quarters 12 American woman, 2 others bitten by dogs at Benaulim THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amid increasing incidents of stray dog menace particularly on beaches, three tourists, an American woman and two Indian women, were bitten by stray dogs on Benaulim beach last week. According to Drishti, in the first incident, a 56-year-old woman tourist from the United States of America was bitten by a stray dog while she was strolling on Benaulim beach. She was immediately administered first aid by lifesavers at the lifesaver tower. The victim, however, opted to go to the hospital via private vehicle. In the second incident also at the Benaulim beach, two domestic tourists, both women in their thirties from Ghaziabad and Mumbai, were bitten by two stray dogs. The patrolling lifesavers who noticed the inci- dent swung into action and contacted the nearest lifesaver tower for assistance and drove the dogs away. First aid was administered to the injured women after which they were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Benaulim and Colva beaches are turning out to be hotspots for stray dog attacks. In May, a 24-yearold Russian woman was bitten while cycling at Benaulim while a local woman from Loutolim was bitten multiple times. A senior citizen also had a narrow escape after being chased by dogs during a morning run at Colva beach. In an effort to work out a solution to the stray dog menace on Salcete beach belt, stakeholders have suggested setting up of a dog shelter to take care of sick and ferocious dogs, besides launching an awareness programme. Dengue time bomb ticking as cases surge across Goa COLVALE ADDED TO HIGH-RISK LIST 117 CASES FROM JAN TO MAY THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 55 LAST YEAR THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Colvale in Bardez has been newly designated as a highrisk area for suspected dengue cases, joining Aldona and Saligao in the same category. These additions come as part of a broader concern across the State, with other high-risk areas including the coastal village of Candolim, Siolim, Porvorim, Panaji, Margao, Chimbel and Vasco. Dr Kalpana Mahatme, the health officer in charge of the national vector-borne disease programme, highlighted the correlation between increased construction activities and the rise in dengue cases. "Construction projects in Colvale, Aldona, and Saligao bring in migrant colonies, leading to unsafe water storage practices that breed mosquitoes," she explained. From January to May this year, 117 confirmed dengue cases were reported, a figure expected to rise with the inclusion of June's data. This marks a significant in- HIGH RISK AREAS „„Colvale „„Aldona „„Saligao „„Candolim „„Siolim „„Porvorim „„Panaji „„Margao „„Chimbel „„ Vasco crease compared to last year's 55 cases in the same period. The monsoon season is likely to exacerbate the situation, Dr Mahatme warned, emphasising the critical role of community participation in controlling the disease's spread. Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, can cause severe flu-like symptoms and potentially lethal complications. Health officials are actively monitoring high-risk areas and educating the public on ON PAGE 3 Bardez BDO orders weekly anti-dengue drives in Calangute constituency panchayats Dengue cases in Canacona, an isolated incident: Health Officer preventive measures, such as emptying water receptacles to prevent mosquito breeding. "We need community cooperation to curb the rising trend of dengue cases," Dr Mahatme urged. "People must avoid longterm water storage in containers and ensure coconut shells and other water-accumulating units are emptied," she added. Despite some cooperation, many residents remain hesitant to follow these guidelines. As a result, show cause >Continued on P5 FIRST FIRs UNDER NEW CRIMINAL LAWS AS NEW CRIMINAL LAWS COME INTO PLAY… Legal eagles navigate punishments from old to new Goa cops go into overdrive, book coconut vendor, tarpaulin seller THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI s the Central government’s ambitious three criminal laws with a distinct “Bharat” flavour came into effect from Monday, legal professionals lauded this as a monumental step while a few expressed reservations. Assistant Solicitor General of India Advocate Pravin Faldesai said the new laws -part of a broader scheme has prioritized justice for citizens while ousting historical inadequacies. “The thought behind this reordering is to get that Bharat flavour in it and to make it more effective, easier, accessible, more organized and powerful. Above all to make it more A citizen-centric and justice-oriented,” he said speaking to The Goan. Asked if old cases will be governed by the old law, ASG Faldesai maintained the new law cannot be made applicable with retrospective effect. “As per Supreme Court Judgments in other contexts, benefits arising from new enactment can be made applicable retrospectively; but stringent provisions cannot be made applicable,” he said. He further stated that the reforms address long-standing issues within the old legal framework, particularly concerning sexual offenses against women. “It is so unfortunate that originally there was only one section dealing with sexual Senior criminal lawyer Advocate Galileo Teles voiced concern stating the new legislation, though comprehensive, raises questions about whether amending existing laws would have been a simpler approach offenses against women; that too in Chapter 16, against Human Body, Section 299… Offenses against women surface at Section 375, punishable under Section 376. The last section in that chapter is Section 377,” Faldesai said highlighting the inadequacies of the old laws. Echoing this view, Public Prosecutor Sushma Mandrekar stated that the systematically structured law has created intriguing provisions where punishment and reformation coexist. Moreover, the law now includes special requirements for transgenders and insists on electronic evidence. “Community service is a strict punishment for convicts sentenced to under three years of imprisonment. There is also an insistence on electronic evidence for the recording of statements from victims and witnesses,” she said. The PP also lauded that those neglected earlier are now covered under the new law. “Transgender community has separate provisions unlike the earlier law which only considered males and females. In another impressive move, under this law, senior citizens are given protection wherein if the police want to question them, permission from the deputy superintendent of police is required,” she added. Senior criminal lawyer Advocate Galileo Teles voiced concern stating the new legislation, though comprehensive, raises questions about whether amending existing laws would have been a simpler approach. “Amending specific provisions where necessary could >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Police exhibited its spectacular enthusiasm as the new criminal laws are enforced from Monday. The force cracked down on the real threats to society -- a coconut vendor and a tarpaulin seller -- by registering FIRs against them under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanghita 2023. Panaji police led the charge by registering a case against a coconut vendor for inconveniencing moviegoers near the Inox theatre and consumers going to the Panaji market. While down south in Margao, Gangappa Bandrolli faced the Police registered a case against a coconut vendor for inconveniencing moviegoers near the Inox theatre and consumers going to the Panaji market, while in Margao, a tarpaulin seller faced the full force of justice for daring to disrupt traffic flow with his sale of tarpaulin full force of justice for daring to disrupt traffic flow with his sale of plastic tarpaulin. Bandrolli is booked under section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanghita for ‘obstructing the smooth flow of traffic at Margao.’ Nisar Ballari was also booked under the same section of the new law, registered at 12:19 pm. The Panaji police charged the 53-year-old for ‘intentionally moving the handcart carrying coconuts at the roadside and selling tender coconuts to the public, in an open space which was causing inconvenience to the general public and also general flow of traffic.’ Goa Police had earlier announced implementing the three key laws -- Bharatiya >Continued on P5