log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2024 GOA Despite his locomotor disability, this sportsperson scores on many fronts IN SHORT >> Court orders `  0k 5 compensation to rape survivor PANAJI: The Fast Track Court has directed that a rape case be referred to the District Collector for compensating the survivor Rs 50,000, who suffered mental trauma and physical health issues after the incident. During the hearing, the Special Public Prosecutor Archana Bhobe submitted that the victim was a minor at the time of the offense.  >> See pg 3 5 foreigners among 24 rescued off beaches PANAJI: As the tourism season began in the State, 24 people, including five foreign nationals from China, America, Australia, and Russia, were rescued from drowning in the past week. Lifesavers conducted 16 single and four double rescues, reunited four missing children, and provided medical aid, including treating an eel bite. Mapusa transforms garbage hotspots MAPUSA: In a bid to combat the persistent issue of illegal waste dumping along roadsides and open spaces, Mapusa Municipal Council has revived its beautification initiative. Over the years, MMC has taken several steps to manage waste, but the council now believes that beautifying previously garbage-ridden “black spots” is an effective way to deter illegal dumping.  >> See pg 5 Nigerian held with ganja worth `  .80L 3 PANAJI: The Anti Narcotic Cell on Monday arrested a Nigerian for possession of narcotics worth Rs 3.80 lakh. The arrest of Johnathan Chimeozie, 50, is the third raid in six days. According to DySP ANC Nerlon Albuquerque the Nigerian was caught red handed selling methamphetamine and ganja during the raid at Arambol.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 32.2 C Min: 25.4 C Humidity: 89% TIDES Low: High: 07:25 01:55 19:35 12:35 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 111 MMC, police crack down on illegal fish market in Kharewaddo >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoan 3 GOA Cuncolim school assault: Headmistress, teacher granted anticipatory bail 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Factors that affect mental health in adolescents and young adults 9 Court dismisses anticipatory bail petition of Velingkar DIRECTS HIM TO COMPLY WITH NOTICES ISSUED BY POLICE, COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major blow to former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar, the District Sessions Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea on Monday, incidentally on his birthday. District Judge Bosco Roberts, who delivered the verdict around 9 pm after concluding hearing arguments till lunch break, directed Velingkar to comply with the notices issued by the Bicholim police and to cooperate with the investigation. The former RSS chief has been absconding since the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) by the Bicholim police for making offensive remarks against St Francis Xavier. With the order, the Goa Po- ARGUMENTS OF VELINGKAR’S COUNSEL „„My client has not committed any offense „„He suggested a DNA test on the sacred relics for the benefit of both the people of Goa and the devotees of St Francis Xavier „„Velingkar did not create any controversy and expressed concern that he would be arrested if he appeared for the investigation „„The police are acting under public pressure „„What is the compelling reason for searching for my arrest? I will appear before the police provided I am not arrested „„Why should I divert the attention from scams? I am not a representative of the government BICHOLIM POLICE: They opposed the anticipatory bail plea and accused Velingkar of avoiding two notices asking him to join the investigation lice intensified their search for Velingkar, adding more teams to locate him at probable locations both within and outside Goa. Velingkar had moved the Court seeking anticipatory bail on Saturday and was denied interim relief. Earlier, during the hearing on Monday, four intervention petitions were filed opposing his plea. MLA Cruz Silva, the complainant in the Bicholim FIR, Warren Alemao, Zina Pereira and another petitioner alleged that Velingkar is a habitual offender who has made similar malicious statements in the past. They further claimed that his controversial remarks were intended to divert at- tention from crucial issues plaguing the State such as large-scale corruption across different sectors. On the other hand, Velingkar’s legal counsel argued that his client had not committed any offense and that he suggested a DNA test on Assagao case: Pooja may be dropped from chargesheet Special team reconsidering its stance THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Once labelled as the mastermind behind the Assagao house demolition and accused of executing a wellplanned strategy, Pooja Sharma’s legal troubles seem to have taken a turn. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch (CB), which had vehemently opposed her anticipatory bail and levelled these charges during the arguments, is reportedly reconsidering its stance. Sources, closely monitoring the investigation, revealed to The Goan that Sharma might not be named in the chargesheet although she was thoroughly interrogated by Crime Branch officers for a couple of days starting July 22. The controversy and her interrogation coincided with the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly when the Opposition benches demanded strict action. Sources said that the sleuths have allegedly not found sufficient evidence to implicate Sharma -- wife of an MASTERMIND NO MORE? „„Crime Branch sleuths have allegedly not found sufficient evidence to implicate Sharma after three months of investigation so far „„Investigation is still underway and chargesheet likely only after a month or two „„All other six accused including alleged conspirator Arshad Khawaja, operator Pradeep Rana, bouncers Shaheeh Saudagar and Shalan Kallappa Morekar, Bismilla Gorgundangi and Ashpak Sheikh could be named as accused intelligence officer posted in South East Asia -- at least in three months of investigation so far. Contesting the anticipatory bail plea filed by Sharma in July, the Crime Branch submitted to the Session Court that she masterminded the eviction of Pradeep Agarwadekar and his family from their home, hired goons and an excavator to demolish the structure. “The offense committed by the applicant (Pooja Sharma) is serious wherein goons were hired by the applicant accused to demolish complainant’s (Agarwadekar family) residential house in broad daylight using excava- tor machines and bouncers. The offense has instilled fear in the local community and disrupted peace and tranquillity,” read the nine-page submission. The Crime Branch had also sought to investigate her to probe the source of money paid to the hired bouncers. But as the investigation is still underway, sources claimed that a chargesheet is likely only after a month or two and all the other six accused including alleged conspirator Arshad Khawaja, operator Pradeep Rana, bouncers Shaheeh Saudagar and Shalan Kallappa Morekar, >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 ON PAGE 2 Tiatrists rally for Goa’s unity Goans foiled attempt to incite communal tension, says LoP Elvis: No action on ‘hate speech’ contempt of SC Inquiry initiated into attack on The Goan photojournalist Wembley Goans denounce attempts to spoil peace SPORTS Sri Lanka appoints Sanath Jayasuriya as full-time head coach 14 Govt reshuffles top policemen, 6 SPs get new postings THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa government on Monday allotted new postings to six Superintendents of Police including three officers who were recently promoted from the rank of DySP. Two probationary IPS officers have also been elevated from Sub Divisional Police Officers to SP rank.  Prabodh Shirwaikar, Harishchandra Madkaikar and Santosh Desai, who were awaiting postings after their promotions, have been assigned roles of SP Traffic, SP Konkan Railway and SP Anti-Corruption Bureau. SP Desai will also hold additional charge of SP Special Branch. SP Konkan Railway Gurudas Gawade has been transferred to the Legal and Vigilance department. SP Headquarters Nelson Albuquerque has been assigned the additional charge of Commandant of the Indian Reserve Battalion while SP Special Branch Dharmesh Angle has been appointed as the new Principal of the Police Training School. Prabodh Shirwaikar, Harishchandra Madkaikar and Santosh Desai assigned roles of SP Traffic, SP Konkan Railway and SP ACB; Gurudas Gawade transferred to Legal & Vigilance dept, Nelson Albuquerque & Dharmesh Angle assigned additional charge of Commandant of IRB and Principal of PTS respectively IPS officers Arshi Aadil and Tikam Singh Verma, who were previously posted as SDPOs in Ponda and Canacona, have been given the charge of SP Economic Offenses Cell and SP Anti-Narcotics Cell, respectively. SP Aadil will also hold the additional charge of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. These transfers have relieved several officers of additional responsibilities. SP North Goa Akshat Kaushal held the additional charge of the Anti-Narcotics Cell while SP South, Sunita Sawant has also been relieved of her additional duties in the Legal and Vigilance Unit. American duo get medicine Nobel for microRNA 1 The Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded Monday to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA, tiny pieces of genetic material that alter how genes work at the cellular level and could lead to new ways of treating cancer. 2 The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute, which awarded the prize, said the duo’s discovery is proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function”. The two scientists studied two mutant strains of worms commonly used as research models in science. 3 Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans, the assembly said in a statement explaining the importance of their work. >> See pg 8 WEATHER WOES: A cyclist rides home amid heavy showers on Monday. The sudden showers accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds, caused widespread damage across the State. (Report on pg 3)  Narayan Pissurlenkar Loud music? Minister finds beach belt serene during surprise visit THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Claiming that the controversy surrounding the late night loud music along the coastal belt could be a mere farce, the Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira on Monday said he did not come across any establishments playing loud music along the beach belt during his recent surprise visit.  In an interview, the Minister even admitted that authorities like pollution control board, police and the deputy collector are shying from acting in the matter.  “Recently, I had gone to the coastal belt… even my officers were not aware…I am not sure, if the driver of the taxi I hired informed them (units in coastal belt)… I did not find even one place playing loud music…believe me... I had taken one reporter with me..,” he said.  “It pains me every morning to read whatever comes on the news about loud music... I have decided to take one more round in the coastal >Continued on P5 Dept will have to strike delicate Chargesheet filed; Paresh, Palekar among 7 named WHAT THE CHARGESHEET SAYS balance to meet ore restriction THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the Supreme Court sets the annual iron ore production and export limit to 20 million tonnes, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) is working on a mechanism to allocate the production limit amongst the auctioned mineral blocks. The Environmental Clearance (EC) has already been granted to five mineral blocks for production of around 5 million tonnes of iron ore annually (MTPA). The State has so far auctioned nine mineral blocks and three more have been put up for auction, next month. The public hearing for sev- According to a senior official, the department we will have to see that the production capacity does not exceed 20 million tonnes cap and accordingly, a mechanism will have to be put in place en mineral blocks has already taken place, of which Vedanta Limited has already commenced operation of its  mineral  block  at Bicholim which has got EC for production of 3 MTPA. Whereas ECs have been granted to  Fomento  Resources Pvt Ltd for its Advalpale-Thivim  Mineral  block  (0.3 MTPA), Monte De Sirigao  Mineral  block  belonging to Rajaram Bandekar Mines Pvt Ltd (0.5 MTPA) and Sirigao-Mayem mineral block belonging to Vedanta (1.0 MTPA). The public hearing for Cudnem-Cormolem mineral block, seeking EC for production of 0.5 MTPA was held last month, while for Cudnem Mineral Block (0.5 MTPA), is scheduled on October 18. “We will have to see that the production capacity does not exceed 20 million tonnes cap. Accordingly, a mechanism >Continued on P5 PANAJI usinessman Shripad Sinai Sawardekar alias Paresh and politician Amit Palekar are among seven persons chargesheeted by the Crime Branch in the 2023 Banastarim fatal accident case. B BANASTARIM ACCIDENT In the 1158 page chargesheet submitted to the court on Monday, the accused face charges of culpable homicide, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy among other offenses under the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act. A total of 121 witnesses have been examined.  Paresh has been specifically charged with recklessly „„Accused face charges of culpable homicide, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy among other offenses „„121 witnesses examined  „„Paresh specifically charged with recklessly driving under influence of alcohol „„Paresh is further accused of fleeing the as the person responsible for the accident accident scene without providing medical assistance to the injured and failing to inform the police. „„He attempted to present his driver Ganesh Lamani „„Conspiracy was hatched at residence of Atrey Sawant in Tivrem to shield Paresh from legal consequences „„Lamani agreed to act as imposter driver at Paresh Sawardekar’s behest, thus harboring the main accused driving his Mercedes Benz SUV on August 6, 2023 under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in the death of three persons and caused serious injuries to four others.  “The investigation conducted in this case has revealed that accused Paresh committed an offense of causing an accident under the influence of alcohol at Banastarim Bridge while proceeding towards Panaji. It caused the death of three persons, grievous injuries to four others and simple injuries to several more,” reads an extract from the chargesheet shared by the Crime Branch. Paresh is further accused of fleeing the accident scene without providing medical assistance to the injured and failing to inform the police. “He attempted to present his driver Ganesh Lamani as the person responsible for the accident. Paresh provided false information to the police to evade legal punishment and destroyed evidence related to the case,” it adds. The CB has further stated that a conspiracy was hatched at the residence of Atrey Sawant in Tivrem. It is alleged that Paresh, along with Palekar, Ganesh Lamani, Abhijeet Shetye, Vishnu Tarcar, Atrey and Prajyot Chodankar conspired to shield Paresh from legal consequences by presenting Lamani as the driver of the SUV involved in the accident. “They facilitated the disappearance of evidence, >Continued on P5