log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY DECEMBER 14, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 177 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 It’s official! Over one lakh struck off from voter rolls CEO SAYS DRAFT ROLLS TO BE PUBLISHED ON DEC 16 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa’s Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel, IAS, on Saturday announced that 10,84,956 enumeration forms of the 11,85,034-strong electorate were collected and digitised, representing 91.55 per cent. Goel said, 1,00,078 electors, or 8.45 per cent, were marked under the ASDD category — absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate — after booth level officers made at least three verification visits. “They (1,00,078 electors) will be struck off and will not feature in the draft rolls to be published on December 16,” Goel said. The breakup of these electors marked as ASDD cases >> SEE PG 2 GOA’S NIGHTLIFE: NOISE, NEON & NEGLECT 9 MAGAZINE MAGAZ From start to sweets, Christmas magic fills Goa Dwindling Goan traditional occupations Salam Fast Food and the quiet start of Goa’s shawarma culture Encroached land, fire safety failures, and extradition law 11 POLL PLAY: ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION ENDS „„ROLL DRAFT DISPLAY: Rolls be displayed at polling booths, at offices of Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer, and on websites of CEO and DEOs (the two Collectors) „„CLAIMS & OBJECTIONS: If your name is missing, wrongly entered, or marked under ASDD, you can file a claim or objection between December 16, 2025 and January 15, 2026 by filling up a ‘form 6’ and submitting it to ERO or AERO „„DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED: Carry one of the 13 prescribed identity/ address documents (such as Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or utility bills) to support your claim. „„UNMAPPED VOTERS: If you receive a notice, attend the hearing before the ERO/AERO with your documents. Your case will be decided on the spot „„FINAL ROLL: After hearings and corrections, the final electoral roll will be published on February 14, 2026. includes 25,574 electors recorded as deceased, 29,750 as untraceable or absent, 40,473 as permanently shifted, 2,008 already enrolled elsewhere, and 2,273 falling under other categories such as refusal to sign or submit forms. The CEO noted that BLOs had shared these lists with booth level agents during meetings held on December 10 with the minutes uploaded on the websites of the CEO and district election officers to ensure transparency. District-level meetings with political parties followed on CLOCK TICKING ON GILL AND SKY AS INDIA FACES SA IN CHILLY DHARAMSALA  >>7 Friday, and a State-level briefing with recognised parties was held on Saturday, he added. The CEO also confirmed that rationalisation of polling booths has been completed in line with ECI guidelines, ensuring that no booth has more than 1,200 electors. After rationalisation, Goa will now have 1,731 polling booths -- 820 in North Goa and 911 in South Goa. The draft electoral roll, along with the final ASDD list, will be published on December 16 and citizens will be able to file claims and objections until January 15, 2026. The CEO further revealed that 1,82,855 electors — 15.43 >Continued on P6 Fans fail to catch a glimpse of Messi, wreck Kolkata stadium Organiser arrested; Mamata orders inquiry PTI KOLKATA What was meant to be a celebratory event around football icon Lionel Messi descended into chaos at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday after spectators resorted to vandalism on failing to catch a glimpse of their hero, alleging gross mismanagement by the organisers and obstruction of views by VIPs. The unrest broke out soon after Messi left the venue much earlier than scheduled, triggering scenes of spectators uprooting plastic chairs, hurling bottles onto the pitch and attempting to breach barricades. Some people, including police personnel, were reported injured, though no fatalities occurred. Police arrested the event’s prime organiser, Satadru Datta, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee an- FROM CHEERS TO CHAOS: Angry fans storm the Salt Lake Stadium, hurl bottles and damage seats after Lionel Messi cut short the full lap of the stadium on Saturday. nounced the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee to probe the incident. The incident exposed the under-preparedness of the city’s police and administration to host an event that aimed to showcase the world’s most popular footballer, his long-time strike partner Luis Suarez and Argentine teammate Rodrigo De Paul, as Second club to be sealed in two days after Arpora fire tragedy THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Barely two days after sealing the ‘Goya’ nightclub in Vagator, authorities on Saturday sealed the ‘Cafe CO2’ club in Ozrant-Vagator for allegedly operating without a mandatory No Objection Certificate from the Fire Department. The Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee led by Kabir Shirgaonkar also found that the nightclub had safety issues pertaining to the structure. Authorities directed the establishment to be sealed till it complied with all required permissions. Action is being taken against the backdrop of the government’s intensified scrutiny of clubs regarding safety, licenses, and compliance with regulations, follow- ing the fire tragedy at Birch By Romeo Lane in Arpora, which claimed 25 lives. In response to the tragedy, the government announced stringent new safety measures for all tourist and entertainment establishments. These include mandatory fire safety compliance, a complete ban >Continued on P6 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Thai authorities will resume deportation proceedings on Monday for Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa, after a weekend holiday paused the process. The brothers were detained in Thailand following an Interpol Blue Corner notice and a warrant issued by Goa Police in connection with a fatal fire at their Arpora nightclub on December 6. Official sources said Thai authorities had moved swiftly on Friday after detaining them a day before, but government offices remain shut over the weekend which delayed the process. “The process has already begun but requires final approvals from the Commander. It will resume on Monday,” a source said, adding that the brothers could be deported to Statements of five Arpora panchayat members recorded PANAJI: The Goa Police on Saturday recorded statements of five panch members of the Arpora panchayat as part of the ongoing investigation. Police said six accused are currently in custody for interrogation in connection with the case, and more than 50 statements have been recorded so far. of Investigation in New Delhi, Interpol, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Bangkok on the case. Goa Police are expected to take custody of the Luthra brothers in Delhi under the supervision of central agencies and bring them to Goa by Wednesday. The brothers were detained under Section 12(7) of Thailand’s Immigration Act after their visas were cancelled. They were first held in Phuket and later transferred to the detention centre at Suan Phlu in Bangkok. India on Monday or Tuesday to face prosecution in Goa. The source further added that the date, time and flight details for the return of Luthras– on emergency travel certificates – are also yet to be confirmed. Sources further said that Thai officials are coordinating closely with the Central Bureau EXPERIENCE LEGENDS OF KHASAK CURATED BY ANURADHA KAPUR AT SAG GROUND (CAMPAL) ON 17TH - 20TH DECEMBER 2025 coming for tourists. “Goa should not be painted in a negative light because of one tragic incident,” Khaunte was quoted as saying at a press conference with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant „„Some stakeholders note December arrivals are below expectations due to long-standing issues like visa constraints this week, asserting that the coastal State remains safe, welcoming and committed to visitor security. He expressed confidence that Goa would recover from the shock of the tragedy without suffering a „„Tour and travel agencies continue to receive bookings for Goa from domestic and international tourists reputational collapse. Industry stakeholders, taking a cautious and practical view, largely agree. “There is no impact as of now,” President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Jack >Continued on P6 PROMENADE & GAZEBO A riverfront walkway featuring photography exhibitions.   AZAD MAIDAN A civic landmark celebrating crafts from across India and folk performances. SAG GROUND (CAMPAL) An open-air venue presenting The Legends of Khasak, a large-scale theatrical experience. CAPTAIN OF PORTS JETTY, OLD GOA This venue hosts Barge, a site-specific, sensory installation. SANTA MONICA JETTY Home to River Raag, our signature sunset cruise concert on the Mandovi River. CASA SAN ANTONIO A restored heritage home hosting a theatrical culinary experience. THE ARENA AT NAGALLI HILLS Our premier stage for large-scale concerts across musical genres. DIRECTORATE OF ACCOUNTS Host to exhibitions, workshops, the Mini Narkasur Archive and a painting by the Baroque master Caravaggio. THE OLD GMC COMPLEX The Festival hub hosting theatre, visual arts, culinary projects, workshops, and more. KALA ACADEMY THE OLD PWD COMPLEX A space for exhibitions exploring contemporary image-making. A hub for performances, puppetry, and a life-sized Chaupad experience.   PANJIM PROMENADE TOWARDS OLD GOA A R T PA R K AZAD MAIDAN DIRECTORATE OF ACCOUNTS OV IR IVE R SANTA MONICA JETTY ND „„Industry stakeholders agree Birch fire has not affected tourist inflow so far „„Corporate travellers, conference groups and wedding parties continue to book as usual „„Tour operators report no booking cancellations linked to the fire „„Five-star hotels are operating at near-full occupancy „„Requests for club visits and nightlife activities remain unchanged Sukhija told The Goan when asked whether the Birch fire had altered tourist inflows. The TTAG and other stakeholders had, a week earlier, acknowledged that IndiGo’s airline-related issues had affected inbound travel at a time when Goa is preparing for peak season. That assessment is echoed by operators on the ground who deal less in perceptions and more in bookings. Ahraz Mulla, who leads the Goa Adventure Club, said demand from corporate travellers, conference groups and wedding parties has been steady. “Practically speaking, there is no impact owing to the fire,” he said, reiterating, “No effect.” His agency, which also arranges trips outside Goa and abroad, continues to receive requests linked to nightlife. ART PARK A space for THE BRIJ Incubator, Goan food, public art, local shopping, children’s workshops, and music. THE OLD PWD COMPLEX ART PARK THE OLD GMC COMPLEX A D …AND THE PARTY GOES ON MIRAMAR BEACH A shaded terracotta resting space designed by Vinu Daniel, inviting visitors to pause by the sea. STEP INTO SERENDIPITY ARTS FESTIVAL 2025 Multi-Level Parking PANJIM, GOA M Biz as usual, Birch tragedy fails to deter tourists PANAJI ays after a deadly fire tore through the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, a tragedy that raised fresh questions about safety and regulation in Goa’s nightlife belt, the State’s tourism industry is presenting a counter-intuitive picture: visitors are still coming. At a time when Goa Tourism is dealing with long-standing and emerging challenges -- high airfares, taxi turf wars, harassment of tourists by taxi operators, visa delays, and recent airline disruptions (now partly resolved) -- the Arpora nightclub fire has, for the moment, not led to cancellations or a drop in tourist arrivals. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had urged people not to view Goa negatively after the Birch tragedy, saying the State remains safe and wel- >Continued on P6 CO2 nightclub at Clock ticks for Luthra brothers, Vagator sealed deportation process on track GOA POLICE MAY TAKE CUSTODY BY WEDNESDAY ALL VENUES ARE NOW OPEN! THE GOAN I NETWORK spectators were left frustrated by a rush of VIPs onto the field that obstructed their view. The World Cup-winning captain and his entourage arrived at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan around 11.30 am and, as he stepped onto the field, he was encircled by VIPs, organisers, CASA SAN ANTONIO KALA ACADEMY Miramar Circle CAPTAIN OF PORTS JETTY MIRAMAR BEACH SAG GROUND THE ARENA AT NAGALLI HILLS GROUND TOWARDS MIRAMAR BEACH g Dr. E Bor Free festival shuttles run all day between venues—just hop in and ride. SUPPORTED BY d es Roa Download our Festival App for bookings, schedules, and easy venue navigation. OFFICIAL BEVERAGE PARTNER SUSTAINABILITY PARTNER Many venues are accessible for all visitors—and open to pets too. EXPERIENCE PARTNER AIRPORT PARTNER GIFTING PARTNER MEDIA PARTNER #10YearsOfSAF www.serendipityartsfestival.com or Download our App HOSPITALITY PARTNER