log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 141 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 SC mandates removal of stray dogs from schools, hospitals Mismatch of address in SIR forms triggers uproar in Guirdolim GOA INFO Only second time NSA invoked pan-Goa after language agitation Health tips for students living in hostels ASKS AUTHORITIES TO ALSO CLEAR ALL CATTLE, OTHER STRAY ANIMALS FROM RAIL STATIONS, HIGHWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS PTI NEW DELHI Taking note of the “alarming rise” in dog bite incidents within institutional areas like educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the forthwith relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination. A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria also said the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back in the place they were picked up from. The bench also directed the authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways and expressways. It said the recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, reflected not only administrative apathy but also a “systemic failure” to secure these premises from preventable hazards. page 6 GOA UK seeks greater awareness for Portuguese Goans in UK Goan Community Centre marks 25 years in North London IN SHORT >> Allot space for police station, AAI told PANAJI: The Goa Human Rights Commission has asked the Airport Authority of India to expedite handing over a space at the Dabolim airport’s multi-level car parking building to the Goa police within to facilitate the shifting of the Dabolim Airport Police Station from its current makeshift tin structure.   >> See pg 3 First UK charter lands in Goa PANAJI: Goa welcomed the first charter flight operated by TUI Airways from the United Kingdom for the Winter Season, marking the commencement of direct arrivals from Manchester and London Gatwick at Mopa.  >> See pg 3 KEY SUPREME COURT OBSERVATIONS „„Stray canines should be relocated to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination. „„Stray dogs picked up shall not be released back to the same location „„All govt, private hospitals must maintain stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin „„Conduct awareness sessions for students and staff on preventive behaviour around animals, first-aid in case of bites „„Ensure institutional areas are secured by adequate fencing, boundary walls „„Undertake joint, coordinated drive to identify “The situation calls for immediate judicial intervention to safeguard the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens, especially children, patients and sportspersons, under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the bench said. It passed a slew of directions in the suo motu case over the stray dog menace. It said the primary objective is to safeguard the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens, particularly children, students, patients and sportspersons, while ensuring compliance with the principles embodied in the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, framed under the Pre- stretches of highways and expressways where stray cattle or animals are frequently found „„All highways, expressways shall have prominently displayed helpline numbers vention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It said after independence, despite significant advances in public health, India continues to report one of the world's highest statistics of rabies-related mortality. “Scientific assessments, including those conducted by the World Health Organisa- Data safety concerns derail pre-test digital census drive ONLY 87 REGISTER SINCE EXERCISE BEGAN ON NOV 1 SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI The ongoing pre-test self-enumeration for India’s first digital census, which allows households to submit their data online, is facing major headwinds in Goa with widespread apprehensions over data security and potential cyber threats discouraging citizen participation. Since the start of the pretest self-enumeration exercise from November 1 covering Margao municipal area and Corgao village in Pernem taluka- only 87 people have registered themselves online. In the light of these concerns, Directorate of Census Operation (DCO) Goa is making efforts to convince the households that the digital enumeration platform is secure with multiple layers of encryption and data-protection built in. Speaking to The Goan, a senior DCO official admitted that Goa’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks and cyber-crimes has created a sense of mis- trust among residents, many of whom fear that personal details shared during the digital enumeration could be misused or leaked. The official said that households have refrained from completing the self-enumeration process due to concerns over data privacy and the safety of the online platform. This hesitation has slowed down the pace of the census pre-test Police arrest main culprit who duped senior citizen of nearly `  crore 5 THE GOAN I NETWORK — a crucial exercise meant to assess the feasibility and efficiency of the digital model before its nationwide rollout next year. “People are hesitant to share personal details online, especially when they frequently hear about cyber frauds and data leaks. This perception of risk is affecting PANAJI The Cyber Crime police arrested main accused in Rs 4.74 crore fake investment fraud case in which a retired government officer was duped by fraudsters impersonating a reputed firm. Details shared by Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Rahul Gupta revealed that one Avishkar Devidas Suradkar of Jalna, Maharashtra has been arrested for the offense and his associate served notice for probe. "Investigations revealed that Rs 80 lakh was transferred into the accused’s bank account at the initial layer, which was later routed to several other accounts. The same account was found linked to eight other cyber fraud cases reported across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, and Goa, amounting to a cumulative fraud of Rs 13.10 crore," he said. Police also stated that the investigating sleuths >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 CAUSE FOR CONCERN „„Goa’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks and cyber-crimes has created a sense of mistrust among residents „„Many fear that personal details shared during the digital enumeration could be misused or leaked „„Households refrain from completing self-enumeration process due to concerns over data privacy and safety of the online platform tion (WHO) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), have estimated that a large ratio of animal-related deaths annually in India were attributable to rabies, with over 90 per cent of human cases resulting from bites inflicted by domestic or stray dogs,” the bench said. It said the brunt of this menace has been borne by children, the elderly and economically weaker sections, who in addition to being vulnerable, lack “timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis”. The bench further said that it is a matter of grave and continuing public concern that accidents caused by cattle and other stray animals on public roads have become alarmingly frequent. The bench asked the authorities to undertake a joint, coordinated drive to identify stretches of highways and expressways where stray cattle or animals are frequently found, and take immediate steps for their removal and relocation to designated shelters. WHAT OFFICIALS SAY „„Census data is confidential by law „„System has been designed with multiple layers of authentication and encryption „„Awareness sessions are being conducted to assure people that their information is safe WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED… Inside the double murder mystery that stunned Saligao AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I PANAJI B y all accounts, Friday morning at the Saligao shopping complex looked like any other. Shopkeepers arranged their wares, customers strolled in and out, and the rhythmic clack of a carrom striker echoed down the corridor. But one shop broke the familiar rhythm. Shop No 14, “Music World,” was closed. Its shutter rolled down, padlocked tight. To most, it seemed like just another day’s business break. To those who knew its owner, Richard D’Mello, the silence ECHOES OF SILENCE: ‘Music World’ at the Saligao market now stands shuttered.  was chilling – because Richard would never open his shop again. Agnelo Pereira Quiet man in a noisy trade Richard wasn’t one to make a fuss. He was known for quietly as “simple, calm – he never fixing sound systems and interfered with anyone.” speakers. His gentle nature Morning visit, a and reserved manner earned chilling timeline him quiet respect from fellow Local tailor Sitaram ‘Tato’ traders. Mahale, who has his shop in “He would come to our stationery shop when he needed the same complex, remembered seeing something. Never talked SCOOTER OF DECEASED both Richard and his asmuch,” said a FOUND AT TIVIM sistant Sonu neighbouring RAILWAY STATION Singh early shopkeeper, >> See pg 3 that Thursday lowering her morning. voice. “Gupta came at around 9 At Shop No 13, a group of am, placed something outside young men continued their the shop and left without carrom game, their laughter opening the shop,” he said. subdued. One of them paused long >Continued on P8 enough to describe Richard 10 13 SPORTS India looks to clinch T20I series in Brisbane decider Accused in jobs-for-cash scam drops a bombshell Says minister, IAS babu, PWD engineer involved; sets 24 hrs to return `  7 cr 1 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a sensational twist into the jobs-for-cash scam that rocked Goa over a year and half ago, prime accused, Pooja Naik, has alleged that a cabinet minister, an IAS officer, and a Public Works Department (PWD) engineer were involved in the racket. Speaking to Prudent Media on Friday, Naik claimed that the deal was of over Rs 17 crore in 'hard cash' paid to the concerned top people on behalf of more than 600 job aspirants, with the assurance of government employment. While she revealed the names of the IAS and the PWD officers, she warned that she would expose the minister and all those who "pushed her into this corrupt practices" if they failed to return the amount within 24 hours. “I am repaying the applicants in whatever way I can, since the main recipients have refused to return my money. I haven't received a single penny from those who POOJA’S EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS „„Deal was of over Rs 17 crore in 'hard cash' „„Money paid to top people on behalf of more than 600 job aspirants „„Bribe was demanded in 2000 rupee notes „„Bribe amount was paid at two Porvorim offices, received Rs 17 crore (bribe) cash... Not a single applicant was given a job,” she added, while accepting that she received commission for facilitating the deals. According to her account, the transactions took place between 2019 and 2021 during the period when Rs 2,000 notes were in circulation. She claimed that she was specifically instructed to make payments in Rs 2,000 denominations, though Rs 500 notes were also accept- Secretariat „„Was informed about vacancies in various depts with each post carrying a specific rate „„None of 600 applicants who paid bribe got govt jobs ed. Naik told the channel that the alleged masterminds in the scam had assured her that all candidates who paid the bribe would secure jobs, and if any candidate withdrew, the money would be returned within 45 days. Explaining the alleged modus operandi, she said she was informed about vacancies in various departments, each post carrying a >Continued on P8 Reservation list out for ZP poll THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As many as 20 zilla constituencies have been reserved for Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes while 18 wards have been reserved for women for the upcoming December 13 Zilla Panchayat elections. Elections, to be held on party lines, will be conducted for 50 ZP seats across the State – 25 each in North and South. The State Election Commission (SEC) is expected to notify the election schedule in the coming week, thereby imposing a model code of conduct in the State. As per the notification is- sued by the SEC on Friday, a total of 13 seats are reserved for OBCs including OBC women -- seven in North Goa and six in South, while six seats ZP quotas redraw Salcete’s political map >> See pg 2 for STs -- five in North and one in South are also reserved. A sole seat in North Goa’s Querim is reserved for SCs. Of 18 wards -- nine each in North and South -- are reserved for women (including women OBCs/STs). The reserved seats in North ZP constituencies are Arambol (woman), Morjim (wom- an-OBC), Torxam (OBC), Colvale (woman), Anjuna (OBC), Calangute (woman), Reis-Magos (woman), St Cruz (woman- OBC), Taleigao (ST), Chimbel (woman), St Lawrence (Woman-OBC), Mayem (woman), Pale (OBC), Honda (OBC) and Querim (SC). In ZP constituencies in South, the reservations are for Usgao-Ganje (woman), Curti (ST), Veling-Priol (woman), Queula (OBC), Borim (woman), Shiroda (woman), Raia (ST), Nuvem (ST), Davorlim (OBC),Guirdolim (ST), Curtorim (OBC), Navelim (Woman-OBC), Sanvordem (ST), Rivona (woman-ST), Barcem (woman), Cola (woman-OBC) and Cortalim (woman).