log on to thegoan.net SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2024 >> SEE PG 2 ‘Babus’ netted, will jobs-for-cash probe knock on doors of political executive? MAGAZINE MAGAZ 9 Bhau Beej: A heartwarming celebration of sibling bonds World Jellyfish Day: Celebrating fascinating creatures of the ocean Flavours of the past savoured in the present at Panaji’s Public Café 11 Imposing enhanced land tariffs only increases exchequer revenues IN SHORT >> Panaji’s ‘black spots’ under CCTV scanner PANAJI: Nearly a dozen garbage black spots in the capital city identified by CCP will soon be monitored round the clock by installing closed circuit television cameras. The decision had been taken a few months ago and the whole process of installing the cameras will be completed in a month’s time, according to CCP deputy mayor Sanjiv Naik.  >> See pg 3 Boost in power infra for port town VASCO: Two newly upgraded transformers were inaugurated in Mangor-Vasco on Saturday, as part of efforts to resolve local power supply issues. Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar inaugurated the transformers in the presence of MMC Chairperson Girish Borker, Councillors and other officials.  >> See pg 5 Tivim’s Khanapur gauncars oppose private varsity  >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoan @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 136 Instagram.com/thegoanonline FC Goa claims first home win of the season PG8 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Dudhsagar controversy blows over, jeep trips to start today CM BROKERS DEAL WITH AGITATING JEEP OPERATORS AFTER TENSION BREWS AT COLLEM IN THE MORNING THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA After disagreements between jeep operators and the government, jeep trips to the iconic Dudhsagar waterfalls are set to begin on Sunday for the first time during the ongoing tourism season when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and leaders of Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association (DTOA) arrived at an agreement late Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, the movement of some jeeps carrying tourists to the Dudhsagar waterfalls led to tense moments in Collem, even as a number of jeep operators affiliated to the DTOA took part in a chain hunger strike on Saturday to demand the shutting down of Tour rates cut, but GTDC counter, online booking to continue: CM jeep operators, who blocked some jeeps. As tensions began to escalate, former MP Vinay Tendulkar and Savordem BJP Block President Vilas Desai rushed to the spot. Dharbandora Deputy Collector Nilesh BICHOLIM: Stating that the grievances of Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association (DTOA) had been resolved, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant late Saturday stated that the GTDC counter and online bookings would continue. The chief minister also said the government had agreed to the demand of DTOA and would reduce the hiked tour rates by almost Rs 200. He also added that a tripartite agreement would be considered. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the delegation of DTOA at Ravindra Bhavan, Sakhali, chief minister said that the jeep operators had issues with the service providers, and added that they would be taken into confidence to decide the service provider. Satisfied with these decisions, DTOA President Nilesh Velip and Secretary Nandesh Desai said tour operations would start >Continued on P6 >Continued on P6 Members of the Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association offer prayers before starting their chain hunger strike on Saturday. the GTDC counter at Collem. TENSION AT COLLEM On Saturday morning, trouble began when a few jeep operators began taking tourists to the Dudhsagar waterfalls amid police protection and this angered the protesting Canada labels India as cyber threat, accuses it of ‘spying’ PTI OTTAWA Amid an ongoing diplomatic row, Canada has for the first time named India in a list of cyber threat adversaries and suggested State-sponsored actors could be spying against it, an allegation that New Delhi slammed on Saturday terming it to be another example of Ottawa’s strategy to attack India. India is named fifth after China, Russia, Iran and North Korea in the National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 (NCTA 2025-2026) report. We assess that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors likely conduct cyber threat activity against Government of Canada networks for the purpose of espionage, the report said. India is also mentioned in the trend on ‘’Geopolitically inspired non-state actors are creating unpredictability’’ citing as example how a pro-India hacktivist group claimed to have defaced and conducted brief attack against Canadian websites after India was India trashes charges against Shah, warns Canada of consequences NEW DELHI: India on Saturday said it has protested in the strongest possible terms the references made by a Canadian minister about Union Home Minister Amit Shah and warned that such “absurd and baseless” allegations will have serious consequences for bilateral ties. Amid an escalating diplomatic row between the two countries, New Delhi also accused Ottawa of indulging in “harassment and intimidation” of India’s consular staff by putting them under audio and video surveillance in “flagrant violation” of diplomatic conventions. accused of involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen. The NCTA 2025-2026 that highlights the cyber threats facing individuals and organisations in Canada was released on October 30 by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre), which is Canada’s technical authority on cyber security, and part of the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE). The assessment reports are released every two years. Nearly 7K licences suspended as riders ignore safety rules THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Transport Department has suspended an average of 25 driving licences per day with a total of 6,980 licenses revoked from January to September this year. The majority of these suspensions were that of two-wheeler riders as 4,892 licences were suspended for riding without helmets. Another 762 licences were revoked for over-speeding while 415 were suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol – offense which has become a growing menace in the recent past. Violations for not wearing seat belts saw the lowest four suspensions. Details with The Goan reveal that the total suspensions were against requests to revoke licences of a SAFETY FIRST „„An average of 25 driving licenses suspended per day „„4,892 two-wheeler licenses suspended for riding without helmets „„762 licenses revoked for over-speeding „„415 licenses suspended for driving under influence of alcohol „„Just four licenses suspended for not wearing seat belts whopping 11,039 violators made by the Goa Police. With an average of 500-800 violations recorded per month, the State continues to grapple with daily road accidents. Nearly 1,900 mishaps have >Continued on P6 India’s leadership almost certainly aspires to build a modernised cyber programme with domestic cyber capabilities. India very likely uses its cyber programme to advance its national security imperatives, including espionage, counter-terrorism, and the country’s efforts to promote its global status and counter narratives against India and the Indian government, the assessment report said. Govt staffer linked to cash-for-job scam found dead THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA A 51-year-old government employee from Keri-Ponda, who was being linked to the Pooja Naik’s cash-for-job fraud case, was found dead in Cuncoliem-Mardol on Saturday. According to police reports, Shridhar Satarkar had gone missing since October 29. His scooter was found in Cuncoliem on Saturday morning and the decomposed body was later found hanging to the tree in the jungle by the roadside at Cuncoliem-Mardol. Mardol police later conducted the panchanama of the incident and sent the body for an autopsy at the South Goa District Hospital at Margao. The body was later handed over to the family for final rites. Police suspect that Satarkar may have ended his life to avoid action in connection with the money-for-job fraud case involving Pooja Naik, who has been booked in a TRAGIC END „„Satarkar had gone missing since October 29 „„His scooter was found in Cuncoliem on Saturday morning „„The decomposed body was later found hanging to a tree in the jungle at Cuncoliem-Mardol number of cases. Mardol PSI Rochan Martins is investigating the case. Two government officers/ officials had come under scrutiny for alleged links with Pooja, through whom two job seekers reportedly managed to get government jobs by paying bribes. The Goa Forward Party, meanwhile demanded constituting a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged ‘systematic job mafia’ at the backdrop of FIRs and the death of government employee Shridhar Satarkar -- suspect in the cash-for-jobs scam.