log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY APRIL 23, 2025 GOA Molbio Diagnostics: A Goa-built unicorn transforming healthcare IN SHORT >> Chargesheet filed in Mamledar murder BELAGAVI: Belagavi Police on Tuesday filed a 200-page chargesheet against Amirsuhail Shakilsab Sanadi (25) who has been accused of murdering ex-Goa MLA Lavoo Mamledar. The chargesheet that was ready last week was filed at the Belagavi JMFC Court after 70 days of the incident.  >> See pg 2 ITI visits must for Class IX, X students PANAJI: Aimed at exposing students to vocational education and skill development, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has mandated visits to Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) for students of Classes IX and X along with the teachers.  >> See pg 3 Veterinary College opens next year PANAJI: Goa’s first Veterinary College is set to begin functioning from the next academic year onwards, as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant directs officials to fast-track the project. Sawant on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the progress of Goa College of Veterinary Sciences, which is proposed to come up at Curti-Ponda. >> See pg 3 `11.07 cr LSD liquid seized; one held PANAJI: In one of the largest seizures of LSD liquid ever recorded in Goa, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) arrested a Kerala native with over 110 grams of high-potency drugs, estimated to be worth Rs 11.07 crore on Monday. The Kerala native was allegedly operating a guest house in Baga while allegedly running a parallel drug trade from a rented house in Siolim.   >> See pg 3 Three held in IPL betting racket MAPUSA: In a late-night raid, Calangute Police registered a case against three individuals for allegedly operating an illegal betting racket during the T-20 IPL cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans on Tuesday. >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 30 C 27 C 72% TIDES Low: High: 01:26 12:37 06:02 19:33 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 305 Missionaries of Charity explains why it is closing Panaji House >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA 24 industrial estates to be covered under Disaster Management Plan 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Warning signs you’re eating too much sugar – and how to stop 10 Terror strikes J&K; foreign nationals among 26 killed 20 INJURED; MASSIVE OPERATION LAUNCHED TO NEUTRALISE ASSAILANTS; SHAH TRAVELS TO SRINAGAR TO ASSESS SITUATION; LET OUTFIT CLAIMS ATTACK PTI PAHALGAM Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir's Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The 26 dead included two foreigners – from UAE and Nepal – and two locals, a high ranking official said without getting into details. The toll is still being ascertained, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while describing the terror attack as much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years. The attack, which comes as US Vice President J D Vance is visiting India and just as the tourist and trekking season is picking up momentum, took place around 3 pm, officials said. Baisaran, about six kilometres from the resort town of Pahalgam, is an expansive meadow ringed by dense pine Following the attack on tourists, Indian Army personnel inspect vehicles near Pahalgam on Tuesday. forests and mountains and a favourite with visitors from across the country and the world. Armed terrorists came into the grassland, dubbed ‘mini Switzerland', and started firing at tourists milling around eateries, taking pony rides or just picnicking, officials and eyewitnesses said. At least 20 people were injured in the strike in the volatile Kashmir Valley where tourists have so far mostly been spared. As news of the terror attack Modi cuts short Saudi Arabia visit JEDDAH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday decided to cut short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, hours after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Modi will now leave for India on Tuesday night, instead of Wednesday as originally planned, they added. targeting tourists in Kashmir spread, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, claimed responsibility. Officials said it was pos- Tension escalates in Bhoma as PWD begins highway survey OFFICIALS BEGIN EXERCISE WITH POLICE PRESENCE; CM SAYS OPEN TO DIALOGUE WITH RESIDENTS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Public Works Department (PWD) officials on Tuesday began the initial survey and ground marking exercise for the contentious highway expansion project amidst heavy police presence at Bhoma even as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant indicated that he will continue the dialogue with the villagers once the land marking is completed and the real picture is clearer to them. There were some tense moments on ground zero at the site on Tuesday when the PWD officials started demarcation work with heavy police presence as a large number of locals also gathered there. Bhoma residents have for several years been opposing the construction of a flyover in their village and proposing instead a bypass road arguing that their homes, temples and age-old cultural activities will be disrupted. PWD officials conduct survey for highway expansion project amidst police presence at Bhoma on Tuesday. Sawant, meanwhile, said he had informed the villagers that after the site marking is completed and they understand the real situation, they can come again for further talks. MoRTH notifies additional land In a related development, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified its intention to acquire around 26,310 sq metres (2.631 Hectares) of additional land across four villages in Ponda taluka for this highway four-laning project and sought public feedback. The notification dated April 16 identifies the land in the villages of Kundaim, Cuncoliem, Veling and Priol. The notification invites objections from the affected persons within 21 days which must be submitted in writing to the Special Land Acquisition Officer, PWD–National Highways, at Altinho. sible the terror group members could have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minis- ter Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, and rushed to Srinagar in the evening and took stock of the security situation. Officials said Shah is likely to visit Pahalgam on Wednesday. “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected, the prime minister said on X. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” he added. Eyewitnesses painted a chilling picture of gunfire breaking the calm of a regular Tuesday afternoon with scores of people enjoying their day out. Cries for help were heard as lifeless bodies lay >Continued on P8 13 SPORTS Delhi Capitals outclass Lucknow Super Giants by 8 wickets in one-sided affair ACB RAID ON KR POLICE STATION PI, constable arrested in bribery case THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Nearly 15 years after he was arrested for accepting illegal gratification from the sibling of an alleged Israeli drug peddler – only to be acquitted later – Police Inspector Sunil Gudlar has once again landed in trouble with Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arresting him in a bribery case. In a late Monday night operation that stretched till around 4 am on Tuesday, the ACB officers raided the Konkan Railway police station in Margao. PI Gudlar and Head Constable Hussain were caught with Rs 25,000 cash, allegedly an advance payment from the complainant – a goat meat trader. As per details shared with the media, the licensed meat trader from Belgaum who supplies meat to Goa, submitted a written complaint and audio evidence implicating the police officials. According to the complaint, PI Gudlar, through his subordinate Hussain, demanded Rs 2 lakh as a lump sum bribe and an additional Rs 25,000 monthly to allow continue his meat trade THE RAID „„ACB conducted a late-night raid at Konkan Railway Police Station in Margao „„PI Gudlar and Head Constable Hussain caught with Rs 25,000 cash— claimed to be advance bribe payment „„A licensed goat meat trader from Belgaum submitted a written complaint and audio recordings to ACB operations in Goa. Superintendent of Police (ACB) Nelson Albuquerque, supervising the probe, said that the trader was threatened with arrest if he failed to comply. “The complainant informed us that Gudlar sent a message through Hussain demanding Rs 2 lakh and a monthly payment of Rs 25,000. He was threatened with being falsely implicated in an illegal meat smuggling >Continued on P8 SCERT now fully autonomous THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is now functional as a full-fledged autonomous body. The SCERT was a section of the Department of Education until now. “The SCERT is now registered as an autonomous body as “Goa State Council of Educational Research and Training” under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Central Act 21 of 1860) and now functions as a full–fledged autonomous body with effect from April 01, 2025,” the press statement reads. SCERT will now have a governing council made up of academicians and experts. The governing council will take all decisions and will also fast-track issues like recruitment. SCERT will have a separate Budget head in the State finances. SCERT has become a crucial body as NEP implementation begins in the state from Classes I to VIII. All decisions for these classes are currently been taken by The State Council for Educational Research and Training , which will also facilitate the shift. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, stands near the body of Pope Francis, placed in an open casket during the rite of the declaration of death in Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. Funeral of Pope Francis to be held on Sat, public viewing from today PTI VATICAN CITY Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter's Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history's first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met on Tuesday in the Vatican's synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis' successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 am in St Peter's Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. US President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend, and Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected. The Argentine pope died Monday at age 88 after a stroke put him in a coma and >Continued on P8 Govt discontinues D Ed course, Old Goa locals resurrect Golden Bell for sacred farewell INITIATIVE FOR A 'GOLDEN HOUR' to adopt integrated 4-yr ITEP THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major academic overhaul, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has announced to discontinue the two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D El Ed) course, which trains teachers for primary education, from the current academic year 2025-26 onwards. The change is in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which supports new integrated teacher education programmes. While Haryana was the first State to discontinue the course, this year, Maharashtra govern- ment decided not to go ahead with four-year BA/BSc-BEd (Integrated) course. Speaking to The Goan, Director Education Shailesh Zingade said that as recommended in the NEP, the government has decided to discontinue with D El Ed course from this year onwards and the same will be transitioned into new integrated teacher education programme (ITEP) shortly. The D El ED course is a twoyear programme designed to train individuals for elementary school teaching. The District Institute of Education and Training, Goa offers a D Ed programme with a capacity of 100 students, while private institutes like St Joseph Vaz Institute of Education also offers a 2-year D Ed course with 50 seats, Nirmala Institute another 50 seats and Vetal Institute had another 50 . According to the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE), the Centre-approved NEP required holistic and transformational shifts in the country’s education system at all levels. The policy advocates revolutionary structural changes even in teacher education to provide the students with high-quality >Continued on P8 OLD GOA opularly known as the Golden Bell of Goa, the main bell of the See Cathedral was broken for several months and was not tolled even during the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier. However, with the death of the Pope and the Bishop's circular that bells need to be tolled in Churches and Chapels, the Old Goa locals got together and repaired the Golden Bell so that the same may be tolled on two-days to mourn the death of the Pope. Speaking to The Goan, local Xavier Rodrigues said that he complained about the „„The main bell of the See Cathedral, also known as the 'Golden Bell', was broken for several months and could not be tolled, even during important events like the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier P The Clapper of the Golden Bell of See Cathedral put back in place by the locals. non-functional Golden Bell to the ASI on Tuesday and demanded immediate repairs on account of the Pope's death. However, an ASI official in- „„Following the death of the Pope, a Bishop's circular instructed that bells be tolled in churches and chapels to mourn the loss „„Locals in Old Goa decided to repair the bell to fulfill this requirement formed me that he would look into the complaint once the application reaches his desk. "By the time my application reaches his desk, the funeral of the Pope would get over. So, like-minded locals got together and decided to repair the bell ourselves," Rodrigues stated. Another local Lloyd Vaz informed that they found that the clapper of the bell had fallen down due to which one could not ring the Golden Bell. "So we first understood the mechanism of the bell and then brought in more hands because the clapper was very heavy. We then connected the clapper to the bell and it took us around 75 minutes," Vaz stated while adding that to make the bell more secure, it is chained with bolts. "We have only done the repairs temporarily but the ASI needs to inspect the bell and make permanent repairs," Vaz added. Another local Glen Cabral, however, raised suspicion whether the clapper was deliberately separated from the bell so that the same could not be tolled. "Therefore, we are also demanding that a probe has to be initiated into whether there >Continued on P8