log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 92 Instagram.com/thegoanonline ASIA CUP: INDIA SET FOR LOW-RISK TUNE-UP AGAINST OMAN  >>13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 CBC 15502/13/0017/2526 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan IN SHORT >> HC clears demolition of Candolim structure MAPUSA: The Bombay High Court at Goa has allowed de-sealing of premises in Candolim to enable the applicant, Suzana Zulekha Ifran Tinwala, to carry out the demolition of structures found in excess of approved plans. However, the court imposed strict conditions, directing that the demolition be done only under the supervision of the GCZMA.  >> See pg 3 5 Margao fast food gaddas ordered shut MARGAO: Officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) cracked the whip against fast food gaddas operating in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council, with the team ordering the shutdown of five gaddas forthwith. The team saw with horror how some of the fast food gaddas were carrying out the activity in an unhygienic manner.  >> See pg 2 Pillion rider dies in Socorro mishap PORVORIM: A pillion rider died, while the rider sustained minor injuries, when their two-wheeler skidded on a muddy stretch of the NH66 highway at Socorro on Thursday morning. According to Porvorim police, the incident took place at about 10 am when the rider, Shubam Mavlingkar, and the pillion, Sunny Narvekar (28) of Nanora, were returning after collecting a report from the GMC hospital. >> See pg 3 South Goa taximen allege harassment MARGAO: Concerned Taxi Operators from South Goa on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the South Goa Superintendent of Police alleging harassment meted out to them by local drivers along the Salcete coastal belt, Calangute, Baga and recently in Canacona.   >> See pg 2 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 30.5 C 25.2 C 85% POLICE SWING INTO ACTION, ARREST FIVE, HUNT FOR SIXTH; KANKONKAR UNDERGOING TREATMENT AT GMC AS LEADERS DEMAND JUSTICE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In yet another daylight daring assault, this time activist Rama Kankonkar was attacked by six assailants armed with deadly weapons near the children’s park in Caranzalem on Thursday. Five of the six assailants, all history-sheeters, were identified and arrested soon thereafter. Eight teams comprising 31 personnel were mobilised to track them down as the accused attempted to flee to Karnataka, police said while adding the accused are charged for attempted murder, conspiracy, assault and others. Kankonkar sustained serious injuries in the attack, incident that drew sharp reactions from both the government and the opposition. The activist, after the attack, alleged that the assail- Tech surveillance, crime records helped trace accused: SP North Activist Rama Kankonkar undergoing treatment at GMC after sustaining injuries in the Caranzalem assault. ants punched and thrashed him, smeared cow dung on his face, and threw him on the road. He further claimed that the group, armed with a knife and a gun, threatened him, saying, “Do you wish to be the protector of Goa? Let us show you.” Police said the six attackers fled on two-wheelers and their identities are yet to be established. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant condemned the incident, stating they have zero DECISION TAKEN TO AVOID DISRUPTION; EXAMS TO FOLLOW CENTRALISED SCHEDULE IN OCTOBER THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a bid to protect the academic term of Class IV students of Shree Mahalaxmi Primary School, run by Mushtifund Saunstha, the State government has allowed the institute to set up question papers for the students based on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus/ framework. However, the examination will be conducted as per schedule in October as part of centralised common summative examination. Shree Mahalaxmi Primary school in Panaji was in controversy over syllabus change. The institute, without consulting the State government adopted NCERT framework for Class IV from this academic year as against the syllabus of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), which is implemented across all government and government aided and some O Curriculum mismatch: Govt mulls uniform framework for schools >> See pg 3 private schools. Taking cognisance of the matter, the issue was discussed during the NEP Steering Committee meeting held on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by Education Secretary Prasad Lolayekar, was unanimous to ensure that students don’t suffer. NARCOTICS PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING THREATENS AMERICAN SAFETY, WARNS US PREZ WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump has named India, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan among 23 nations designated as “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries,” warning that the production and trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals from these countries threatens the safety of the United States and its citizens. >Continued on P8 Govt allows NCERT papers for Class IV at Mushtifund school Trump lists India among 23 major drug transit nations AGENCIES PANAJI: Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta informed that technical surveillance and crime records helped track the accused within three hours. A total of eight teams comprising 31 personnel were constituted under the supervision of SDPO Panaji. "Using CCTV footage and police crime records, all six were identified within three hours of the crime being reported. A manhunt was then launched. Acting on inputs that some of the accused were spotted near Dodamarg bus stand, a police team conducted searches in the area and arrested Anthony Nadar 025 Indian EVs under `15 lakh: Range, charging time, price compared Hero XOOM 160: Everyday practicality meets touring ambition In a “Presidential Determination” submitted to Congress on Tuesday, Trump said the list, known in Washington as the “Major’s List”, identifies countries that are either primary sources or key transit points for illicit drugs entering the United States. The nations named are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. The White House said the designations were based on a combination of geographic, commercial and economic factors that make drug production or transit possible, “even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control and law >Continued on P8 NS T EP ,2 Page 6 6 assailants brutally attack activist in broad daylight at Caranzalem 12 Speaking to The Goan, SCERT director Meghana Shetgaonkar said that considering the situation, where ultimately, students will suffer, the committee decided to allow the school to set up NCERT based question papers for Class IV for this year. “The school has violated the directions but if they stretch the issue and force >Continued on P8 tolerance for such crimes. “Government will not tolerate such incidents. Instructions are given to find out who is behind this and arrest them soon,” he told the media, soon after the video of the attack went viral. SEBI clears Adani group of Hindenburg allegations PTI NEW DELHI In a big boost to tycoon Gautam Adani, markets regulator SEBI on Thursday cleared the billionaire and his group of stock manipulation allegations made by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, saying fund transfer between group companies did not fall foul of any regulation. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in two separate detailed orders said the allegations of insider trading, market manipulation, and violations of public shareholding norms were found to be unsubstantiated after a detailed investigation. Hindenburg, which has since shut down, in January 2023 published a damning report against the Adani Group, alleging Adicorp Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Milestone Tradelinks Pvt Ltd, and Rehvar Infrastructure Pvt Ltd were used as a conduit to route funds from various Adani Group companies to fund publicly listed Adani Power Ltd and Adani Enterprises Ltd. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao lashed out at the government, calling the incident proof of collapse of law and order in the State. “Goa is witnessing a disturbing trend of 'goondagiri’ by assailants protected by police. Individuals who speak out against wrongdoing are targeted. The earlier attack on Rama Kankonkar outside the court, followed by police inaction, clearly indicates that law enforcement is shielding the perpetrators,” Alemao said. Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai also condemned the incident, stating that this attack is on every Goan. “Activist Rama Kankonkar, a fearless voice who has been relentlessly exposing the failures of the government, was brutally attacked today. This is not just >Continued on P8 File FIR on missing Tiger Reserve plan: CEC to Forest dept Committee to visit in October; report to SC within 6 weeks THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Taking serious note of missing files pertaining to Tiger Reserve, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the State Forest Department to immediately file a first information report (FIR) in the matter. The CEC is expected to visit Goa in the first week of October for hands-on study on the Tiger Reserve issue. As directed by the Supreme Court, the committee is expected to submit its report by the end of October. During its first hearing on September 16, the petitioner Goa Foundation made a written submission that included the Tiger Reserve proposal finalised by the State Forest Department in 2018. Foundation director Claude Alvares informed CEC that the document indicated that all the major settlements had been scrupulously excluded from the boundary of the Tiger Reserve. He informed the CEC that the file dealing with the Tiger Reserve with the government had disappeared, hence he could not produce all the annexures listed in the Forest Department’s tiger proposal. “Upon hearing this, CEC member C P Goyal asked the PCCF whether this information was correct. The PCCF admitted the tiger proposal file could no longer be found. The CEC asked the PCCF whether an FIR had been filed, reporting the missing file. He directed the PCCF to file the FIR,” Alvares said. The CEC members included C P Goyal, Dr J R Bhatt and >Continued on P8 Policy shift: Govt freezes nod for new Indian Pvt varsities ONLY THREE APPROVED SO FAR; CM HINTS AT FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS AS PARUL UNIVERSITY STARTS CLASSES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major policy shift, the Goa government has decided to freeze permissions for new Indian private universities while exploring the possibility of allowing foreign universities to set up campuses in the State. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking after inaugurating Goa’s first private university — Parul University at Quepem — said the government’s focus will now be on institutions that bring “innovation, unique concepts and something different for Goan students.” Sawant confirmed that, apart from Parul University, approvals have already been granted to MIT Pune and Ganpat University (Gujarat) to establish campuses in Goa. “For now, we are not granting any more permission to private universities,” he said, clarifying that the State is open to foreign universities with distinctive offerings. PARUL CAMPUS Chief Minister Pramod Sawant speaking at the inaugural of Goa’s first private university – Parul University at Quepem, on Thursday. The newly inaugurated Parul University campus near ONGC Betul in Quepem has begun operations with 509 students across 13 programmes, including computer science, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and health sciences. Over 70 per cent of the enrolled students are Goans, with the university offering „„The newly inaugurated Parul University in Quepem has begun operations with 509 students across 13 programmes, including computer science, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and health sciences „„Over 70 per cent of the enrolled students are Goans, with the university offering them 25 per cent lower fees compared to non-Goan students them 25 per cent lower fees compared to non-Goan students. The institute has also announced plans to set up a private medical college in Goa in the near future. Highlighting the importance of the new campus, >Continued on P8 AMID PORVORIM CORRIDOR ARBITRATION CONCERNS... PWD phases NH-66 closure, balances traffic flow THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA he Public Works Department (PWD), wary of costly arbitration delays, has opted for a phased closure of the NH-66 right-hand side (RHS) carriageway between Aradi junction, Socorro and the Sangolda bypass. Despite the two-month closure notice kicking in from midnight on Wednesday, traffic flowed smoothly on Thursday morning, with motorists experiencing little to no disruption as restrictions are being enforced gradually to keep the corridor project on track for timely completion. PHASED CLOSURE FOR SMOOTH FLOW T „„PWD has implemented gradual closure of the righthand side carriageway between Aradi junction, Socorro, and Sangolda bypass to facilitate Porvorim elevated corridor work „„Despite the twomonth closure notice The closure, announced to take effect from midnight of September 17, was expect- ed to divert traffic heading from Panaji towards Mapusa through O’Coqueiro junction from September 17, motorists experienced little to no disruption as restrictions are being enforced gradually „„Officials fear delays in contractor access could lead to costly arbitration cases, which have previously burdened other states financially and onto the Chogm Road. However, motorists found no visible disruptions, with traffic moving as usual along the stretch. PWD officials clarified that the restrictions are being implemented in phases to facilitate ongoing work on the Porvorim elevated corridor, a major infrastructure project along the busy highway. “It’s a partial closure, and therefore the flow of traffic will appear normal. We are introducing closures phase-wise. In another 10 days we will issue a fresh notification announcing further closures,” a PWD official told The Goan. Officials admitted, however, that the speed of work remains >Continued on P8