log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 233 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 2 3 Family recounts daylight terror by ‘goondas’ at Anjuna house Post-Delhi poll results, Congress, AAP at crossroads GOA Mapusa water supply upgrade causes disruptions, safety concerns for locals The beauty and wellness potential of rosewater   ARMED GOONS BREAK INTO HOUSE WITH BASEBALL BATS, HOCKEY 35 STICKS, PISTOLS   60-YR-OLD MAID HELD HOSTAGE   HOUSEHOLD GOODS DUMPED INTO TRUCKS AND TAKEN AWAY   ACTION FROM POLICE YET NO THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A family -- Rajesh Sinary, his British wife Bronwynn and six-year-old daughter Zion -- has alleged that they have been dispossessed of their home at St Michael's Waddo, Anjuna in broad daylight on Saturday by some 30-35 goons and complaints to the police have yielded zero results. Bronwynn, also known in the Anjuna locality by an alias Bonny, told reporters at a press conference held at the Azad Maidan in front of the Police headquarters on Sunday, the goons arrived armed (according to neighbours) with sticks, baseball bats, hockey sticks and pistols and forcibly broke into their home holding their 60-yearold housemaid hostage when they were out. She also said she had got a threatening call last week where the caller warned them to leave the House for their own safety and that he was calling on behalf of some Zan- IN SHORT >> Public outcry over electricity dept’s bill recovery drive MAPUSA: The ongoing Statewide drive by the Electricity Department to recover pending power dues has sparked widespread concern, particularly among lower-income groups. Residents have raised issues over abrupt disconnections without providing adequate notice.   >> See pg 3 18 Goan residents got Indian citizenship PANAJI: As many as 18 Goan residents have managed to acquire Indian citizenship in the last ten years, while there are 22 whose applications are pending before the Union Home Ministry. District Collectors were investigating acquisition of citizenship by Goa residents from other countries. >> See pg 3 Main gas pipeline damaged at Bhatlem PANAJI: The primary gas pipeline supplying gas to Panaji was damaged at Bhatlem during ongoing Smart City sewerage work. Officials confirmed that the leakage has been stopped. The house where the Sinarys lived in Anjuna. ito. Interestingly, visibly shaken Rajesh, who is the son of freedom fighter the late Purushottam Sinary and the nephew of Goa's first IGP, Prabhakar Sinary, they got cold-shouldered by the police personnel at the Anjuna police station when they rushed there. Anjuna PI, Suraj Gawas, when contacted confirmed Colvale jail’s dark reality: Narcotics, graft & crime AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION FLOURISHED WITH HELP OF EXTERNAL SYNDICATES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the Prisons Department intensified its probe into the alleged smuggling of drugs and other contraband inside Colvale jail, fresh revelations have exposed a well-organised network allegedly involving suspended Deputy Superintendent Krishna Usgaonkar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) Suraj Toraskar, and two other police personnel.  Officials are investigating how narcotics worth lakhs were trafficked into the “Stateof-the-art modern jail,” allegedly with the involvement of selected jail staff and police personnel.   Reliable sources told The Goan that a raid by the IRB on January 31 led to the seizure of narcotics worth approximately Rs 15 lakh, along with large quantities of banned tobacco and other contraband.  BUSINESS THRIVES BEHIND BARS „„Drugs worth Rs 15 lakh were smuggled into the high-security prison, besides tobacco and other banned products „„Officials allegedly earned up to Rs 5 lakh per smuggling attempt „„Female inmates’ block allegedly used for smuggling   This prompted separate inquiries by the Prisons Department and Goa Police with the preliminary findings revealing a long-running operation in which certain officials smuggled drugs into the prison, allegedly in collusion with drug peddlers and criminal syndicates operating outside. All four including a probationary constable have been suspended pending a detailed State paves way for solar power plants on canals THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has granted in-principle nod for setting up State’s first Canal solar power project to generate 336 MW of renewable energy for farming activities without consuming any agricultural land. The State has sought a proposal from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for installation of a 336 MW solar power plant on the irrigation canal top and canal side. Minister for New and Renewable Energy (NRE) Ram- having received the complaint from the Sinary family on Saturday but said no FIR has been registered yet. "I have received the complaint but an FIR has not yet State has already signed a MoU with IOCL for installation of a groundmounted solar power plant, and a proposal for a canal-based solar power plant is currently being sought akrishna Dhavalikar in a reply tabled on the Floor of the House has said that feasibility study was carried out for installation of solar power plant on irrigation canal top and canal side. He said that the State has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IOCL for the installation of a ground-mounted solar power plant, and a proposal for a canal-based solar power plant is currently being sought. Dhavalikar further said that Satlaj Jal Vikas Nigam (SJVN), a public sector undertaking under Union Power Ministry, has carried out feasibility for setting up four floating solar plants on Selaulim, Amthane, Anjunem and Chapoli dam with a total power generation capacity of 197 MW. The State >Continued on P5 „„Some female jail staff also under suspicion „„Officials examining digital payment trails, social media interactions, and call records of jail staff enquiry.     “We suspect that some officials pocketed up to Rs 5 lakh per smuggling attempt. They used the female inmates’ block, which is often subjected to minimal checks, to smuggle drugs. In many cases, even female jail staff are suspected of misusing this leniency. This has been happening for quite >Continued on P5 9 INFO been registered. It is being investigated," Gawas told The Goan on Sunday evening. The Sinary couple, meanwhile, said that the "rowdies" entered the house claiming to be policemen and manhandled their housemaid, who was also present at the press conference. They said they mistreated the maid, Isabela a local from Anjuna. "They forcibly took her in a vehicle and left her on the road in some other part of Anjuna," Rajesh said. They also dumped all their belongings (nearly three truckloads) and took them away," Bronwynn said. The couple said they have been living in the home at Anjuna for over a year after they began negotiating to buy the property with the owner one Michael Peters, who is also a British National and based in the UK. While living in the home they have also repaired and >Continued on P5 SPORTS Australia secures first Test series win in Sri Lanka in 14 yrs 12 Govt schools struggling to survive as enrolment dips 17 closed or merged every year in last decade SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME PANAJI On an average, 17 government schools in Goa are either closed or merged every year in the last one decade, due to low enrolment. Since 2014-15, almost 212 elementary schools have either been shut or merged with nearby schools, as per a policy decision taken by the State government. What is more alarming is that until 2023-24, there were 789 government schools, the number that came down to 694 in the ongoing academic year indicating that almost 95 schools were either shut or merged during this period. Sources reveal that the authorities have identified 35 more government primary schools with zero enrolment in the academic year 202425, which may face closure or merger in the coming year. As per the data tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister for State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, during this period  that is from 2014-15 to 2024-25, only nine private schools were either shut or merged due to infrastructure issues. Goa, which had 906 government schools in 2014-15, was left with 694 schools at FOOD FOR THOUGHT „„Since 2014-15, almost 212 elementary schools have either been shut or merged with nearby schools „„Until 2023-24, there were 789 govt schools, but the number came down to 694 in ongoing academic year „„35 more govt primary schools were identified with zero enrolment in 2024-25 „„From 2014-15 to 2024-25, only nine private schools were either shut or merged due to infra issues the start of the academic year 2024-25. In the ongoing academic term, the Education Department closed seven schools due to nil enrolment while there are close to 55 per cent government schools, of the total 694, where less than five students are studying in Class I to IV. According to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the government schools are shutting down due to private schools located within its close proximity. Sources revealed that in the last two years, close to 150 applications for new schools have been kept on hold or rejected by the government taking into account the feasibility report submitted by the education department and considering the worrying trend of declining number of government schools.   According to rules, there cannot be two primary schools within the radius of one to two kilometers while the three kms radius is for Secondary schools.  Chaudhary  said that education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and the opening, closing and rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State Governments. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides children’s access to elementary schools within the defined area or limits of neighbourhood. However, the Minister said the central govt assists States through centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha, wherein financial assistance is also provided for various activities to reduce dropout in government schools. Manipur CM Biren Singh steps down PTI IMPHAL Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal, officials said. In a letter to the governor, Singh said, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far. I am extremely grateful to the central government for timely actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interests of every single Manipuri.” “My sincere request to the Centre is to continue with the same. I take the opportunity to enumerate the most important ones of them ... To maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur which has a rich and diverse civilizational history over thousands of years,” the letter added. He also requested the Centre to continue the “crackdown on border infiltration and to formulate policy for the deportation of the illegal immigrants and the fight against drugs and narco terrorism.” HITMAN MODE: India captain Rohit Sharma in action during his 90-ball 119 in the second ODI against England in Cuttack, on Sunday. The opener roared back to form as the hosts chased down 305 in 44.3 overs to seal the three-match series.  >> Report on pg 12 31 elected Delhi MLAs have criminal cases: ADR report PTI NEW DELHI Thirty-one of the 70 candidates elected to the eighth Delhi assembly have declared criminal cases against their names, according to poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The figure is lower than the 43 MLAs in the last assembly. The ADR and Delhi Election Watch, which analysed the affidavits submitted by all 699 candidates who contested the assembly elections, said the number of winning candidates with serious criminal cases remained a concern. One newly-elected MLA in 2025 has declared cases related to attempted murder while two others are facing charges of crimes against women. A party-wise breakdown shows 16 of BJP’S 48 MLAs and 15 of AAP's 22 lawmakers have criminal cases against their names. Bollywood star sets sight on racing academy in Goa ROHIT BHANDIYE THE GOAN I PANAJI B ollywood star John Abraham’s love for motorsports, motorcycles and cars is something most of his fans are aware of. Now, the actor wants to turn his passion for motorsports into starting a racing academy in Goa which will help in churning out future champions like India’s Formula one stars Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. “I want to establish a racing academy in Goa if the Goa government gives us enough land, mostly on the outskirts of cities. We shall be more than happy to grab it, lay down the track, get the necessary GOA RACING IN THE FAST LANE „„At least 100 acres of land needed to start racing academy, according to John Abraham „„Academy will have 3-4 kilometers of track „„Around 5-6 layouts have been scouted in Goa „„Still in process of identifying which place will fit the project permissions required and start the academy for kids because you have to start at the age of 6 and 7. I want more and more youngsters to come and join this academy and become BOOST FOR GOA „„Goa being a global tourist destination, state has potential to become future stars”, said John while interacting with the media at a star hotel in Panaji. Having a racing academy in Goa for his ambitious project will require a huge chunk of an international racing destination „„Formula One is being held at international tourist destinations like Monte Carlo... Goa has the feel of becoming that kind of an international racing destination, feels Abraham land. “We need at least 100 acres of land to start such a academy, which will also have 3-4 kilometers of track”, the Bollywood actor said. Akhilesh Reddy, owner, Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd, whose firm is dedicated to developing a world-class motorsport ecosystem in India said, “I have gone through around 5-6 layouts in Goa and are still in the process of identifying which place will be fit for this project.” Both John and Akhilesh have complimented Goa’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte for giving a positive response. John was in Goa’s state capital as an owner of Goa Aces, one of the six city-based teams competing for the Indian Racing League (IRL) and FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship >Continued on P5