log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline PG13 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2024 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 140 Donald trumps Kamala in historic political comeback WE’RE GOING TO FIX OUR BORDERS; WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND FUTURE; WILL FIX EVERYTHING AND HELP THE COUNTRY HEAL: TRUMP’S VICTORY SPEECH PTI WASHINGTON Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency. The victory validates his bare-knuckles approach to politics. He attacked his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in deeply personal – often misogynistic and racist – terms as he pushed an apocalyp- CYBER TECH The role of trust in the online world: Navigating misinformation and accountability >> See PG 7 >> See PG 3 ‘Green Cess’ plan on non-Goan vehicles hits dead end? IN SHORT >> Govt hikes DA by 3% pc for employees PANAJI: The Goa government on Wednesday has announced a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for State government employees effective from July 1, 2024.>> See pg 3 Modi congratulates ‘friend’ Trump Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures after his victory in Florida, on Wednesday.  (Related reports on Pg 8) tic picture of a country overrun by violent migrants. The coarse rhetoric, paired with an image of hypermasculinity, resonated with angry voters – particularly men – in a deeply polarised nation. “I want to thank the Amer- ican people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president,” Trump told throngs of cheering supporters in Florida. In state after state, Trump outperformed what he did in NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated “friend” Donald Trump on his “historic” presidential polls victory, and said he looks forward to renewing their collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. the 2020 election while Harris failed to do as well as Joe Biden did in winning the presidency four years ago. Upon taking office again, Trump will work with a Senate that will now be in Republican hands, while control of the House Online escort services booming in rural Goa POLICE CLAIM CRACKDOWN, BUT NETWORK THRIVES ACROSS STATE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa Police claim to be cracking down on unchecked escort services sites, but a quick glance online tells a different story. Despite measures to tackle the illicit industry, online advertisements for escort services are booming, brazenly advertising Goa as a destination for “naughty fun,” displaying contact numbers, names and even photos of women marketed as Escort. Far from being confined to the coastal tourist hotspots, this industry has spread into Goa’s hinterland. Small villages like Bicholim, Sanguem, Valpoi and Canacona have been swept up in the wave with agencies listing “escort services” even in these quieter, more rural areas. One of these sites operated by one ‘VIP escort girl’ goes as WHAT THEY SAID… We identified and recommended blocking 78 such websites in our official communication to the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) and I4C. Our team is consistently following up on the proposal. There is a process involved, which is why it has been taking some time. These sites should be blocked within 2-3 days — Rahul Gupta, SP (Crime Branch) We have been raising this issue with the authorities and have even submitted reports, analysing the data including the phenomenon. We have provided enough information for the police to act. In Goa, there is online and offline trade. Our role starts post rescue as collecting intelligence, taking action to rescue the victim and breaking the organised network is the responsibility of the police. They have to take action, however whatever support they require from us, we will provide them — Arun Pandey, ARZ Director far as categorising services by region with offerings branded as “South Goa Escorts”, “Anjuna Escorts”, “Baga Beach Escorts”, “Valpoi Escorts”, etc. “Goa is one of the most happening places in India, and no night is complete without some naughty fun. Welcome to Goa Escort Services…..and we will offer you an amazing time with high profile models,” reads an extract of the site. >Continued on P5 Foreign tourist arrivals show minimal growth amid crores spent on promos ‘Taxi mafia’, high costs and infrastructure blamed for decline THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI oreign tourist arrivals to Goa have continued to disappoint despite crores spent by the government on promoting Goa and offline campaigns abroad to boost numbers. The blame remains on the long-standing, unresolved “taxi mafia” as several social media users narrate the tainted ground reality of harassment and price gouging by local taxi operators. As per the global economic data provider CEIC, the highest record of foreign arrivals in the past decade was 8.5 million in 2019. During the COVID-af- F CAUSE FOR CONCERN „„As per the global economic data provider CEIC, the highest record of foreign arrivals in the past decade was 8.5 million in 2019 „„During the COVID-affected years of 2020 and 2021, numbers plunged to 0.2 and 0.5 million, respectively „„Although arrivals began fected years of 2020 and 2021, numbers plunged to 0.2 and 0.5 million, respectively. Al- to climb again reaching 1.2 million in 2022 and 1.5 million in 2023, the figures still fall far short of pre-pandemic highs when arrivals recorded between 6 and 8.5 million from 2014 to 2019 though arrivals began to climb again reaching 1.2 million in 2022 and 1.5 million in 2023, the figures still fall far short of pre-pandemic highs when arrivals recorded between 6 and 8.5 million from 2014 to 2019. The data has led to backlash across social media where visitors and even locals alike have voiced their grievances. Many stories centre on the high-handedness of local taxi operators. Madhur, who took to X (formerly Twitter) shared a disturbing encounter while driving from Benaulim beach with a German friend. “In no time there were 10plus taxi drivers ready to beat us up. The local Goan friend >Continued on P5 ISL: FC Goa moves to third spot after 2-1 victory over Punjab FC RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 hadn’t been determined. “We’ve been through so much together, and today you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory,” Trump said. “This was something special and we’re going to pay you back,” he said. “We’re going to fix our borders; will fight for you, your family and future; we’re going to fix everything and help the country heal,” Trump said in his victory speech. The US stock market, Elon Musk’s Tesla, banks and bitcoin all stormed higher on Wednesday, as investors looked favourably on a smooth election and Trump returning to the White House. In his second term, Trump has vowed to pursue an agenda >Continued on P5 Jobs-for-cash rackets: Multiple arrests, but questions remain ACCUSED OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY; POOJA NAIK REARRESTED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa Police made at least a dozen arrests across about eight FIRs in connection with the alleged jobs-for-cash scam in the last two weeks, yet investigations reveal no connections between the accused of a larger criminal syndicate. Instead, the accused in separate FIRs reportedly operated their own isolated racket. The arrest of Pooja Naik alias Rupa Palkar has exposed one of the biggest government jobs-for-cash scams operating over the last several years. Aspirants were lured with promises of lucrative posts in the Indian Railways, Police, PWD, Education and other government departments. Ongoing investigation has revealed that not only unemployed locals acted as fraudsters but two policemen and a few government servants connived with the masterminds to dupe their targets. Director General of Police Alok Kumar confirmed that no UNANSWERED QUESTIONS „„How will investigators trace the origins of cash since maximum cases saw bribes paid through cash? „„Some victims received receipts mentioning a specific amount paid to the accused but without specifying the purpose of payment. How will the police establish this in their charge sheet and during trial? „„Could new evidence emerge to suggest a wider network given that job fraud cases often involve contacts or connections? „„Will these cases prompt an inquiry into job recruitment conducted in recent years within the respective departments? „„Will the department probe previous complaints against Pooja Naik where she reportedly refunded the ‘bribe amount’ to victims to evade arrest? TIMELINE ON PAGE 5 >> links have been established between the accused arrested in separate FIRs. “The accused were operating independently. So far, they have no connections with each other. However, we remain open to any evidence that may emerge during the investigation,” he said, speaking to The Goan. The police chief added that each FIR is being thoroughly investigated by the respective police stations while ruling out the formation of a single dedicated team to handle the cases. As many as eight FIRs have been registered across Bicholim, Ponda, Mardol, Panaji, Canacona and >Continued on P5