log on to thegoan.net TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2026 GOA @thegoanonline FAITH ACROSS TRADITIONS: MILAGRES FEAST AND LAIRAI ZATRA A WALK THROUGH FIRE: INSIDE THE SACRED JOURNEY OF SHIRGAO’S DHONDS IN SHORT >> Court seeks status reports on Mala lake PANAJI: Taking serious note of the large-scale fish deaths reported at Mala Lake, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed the Directorate of Health Services and the Goa State Pollution Control Board to conduct inspections and submit status reports by Tuesday morning.  >> See pg 3 IMD puts Goa on rain alert for Apr 23 PANAJI: IMD has issued a yellow alert for Goa on April 23, forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds at isolated places across the State. According to the IMD, wind speeds are likely to reach 30–40 kmph during the thunderstorms. FES courses across all ITIs: Sawant PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday announced that a Fire and Emergency Services course will be introduced across all Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Goa from the upcoming academic year, as part of efforts to equip youth with essential safety and disaster response skills.  >> See pg 3 Tourists robbed of valuables worth `4L PANAJI: Unidentified thieves decamped with valuables worth Rs 4.84 lakh including high-end phones and other electronic devices belonging to two tourists from Rajasthan from a hotel in Morjim. As per complaint filed by Garvit Singh, a resident of Jaipur, the accused entered the unlocked room door to gain entry and decamped with the valuables. 21 dead in Jammu road accident JAMMU: A passenger bus rolled down a hillside in Jammu and Kashmir''s Udhampur district on Monday, leaving 21 people dead and 29 others injured, officials said. The bus crushed an auto-rickshaw before landing upside down on the road below. Officials said those travelling in the auto-rickshaw sustained injuries but survived. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 34.7 C 26.8 C 84% The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 303 Selaulim Canal becomes site of recurring tragedies >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 3 GOA Lairai Devi devotees clean well, restore pathway in Charavane 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Beyond the surface: Health secrets behind your breakouts 11 SPORTS Tilak ends MI's losing streak with 45-ball century 14 GOA ERUPTS OVER ST XAVIER REMARKS  HUNDREDS GATHER AT POLICE STATIONS DEMANDING ARREST OF KHATTAR  SEVERAL PLAINTS FILED  CONG GUNS FOR MAUVIN THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa witnessed widespread outrage on Monday after alleged derogatory remarks by right-wing activist Gautam Khattar targeting the Goa’s patron saint, St Francis Xavier, sparked protests and a flurry of police complaints across the State. Anger spilled onto the streets as demonstrators gathered at multiple police stations, demanding Khattar’s immediate arrest. The Congress intensified the political storm by demanding the sacking of Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, accusing him of “backing” Khattar during the controversial speech. The flashpoint came after a video of Khattar -- founder of the Sanatan Mahasangh -- addressing a public event went viral. The gathering was attended by Godinho, and BJP MLAs Sankalp Amonkar and Krishna Salkar, further fuelling the political and public backlash. In a significant development, senior BJP leaders, including minority MLAs Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo and Joshua D'Souza, along with Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade, strongly con- THE GOAN I NETWORK Police shut the entrance gate to the South Goa district police headquarters at Margao to keep the protestors at bay.   Santosh Mirajkar. demned the remarks, terming them deeply offensive and a threat to the State’s fragile communal balance. MARGAO Salcete witnessed widespread unrest on Monday as agitated residents from various parts of the taluka gathered in Margao to protest against derogatory remarks. Hundreds of protestors assembled at the South Goa district police headquarters in the morning to lodge formal complaints and demand the immediate arrest of the accused. The protestors, who were stopped at the entrance of the district police headquarters, demanded that Kattar be arrested within two days. They also called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to dismiss Minister Mauvin Godinho from the Cabinet. COLVA A large crowd inhabiting Salcete coastal belt descended at the Colva police station to demand the immediate arrest of Kattar. Hate speech challenge exposes cracks in India’s legal system STUDY TERMS FRAMEWORK AS INADEQUATE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A recent study by Goa University’s legal academic has warned that India’s existing legal framework is illequipped to tackle the growing challenge of hate speech in the digital era, despite strong constitutional guarantees of free expression. The research, conducted by Dr Vijay Madhu Gawas, an Assistant Professor at the Manohar Parrikar School of Law Governance and Public Policy under University of Goa, examines the complex balance between freedom of speech and regulation of hate speech in a diverse democracy. The study was published in Legal Lock Journals LLP. One of the strongest findings of the study is that “existing legal and constitutional frameworks are insufficient to address the challenges posed by digital amplification of hate speech,” citing legislative ambiguities and inconsistent enforcement as key concerns. The paper further CM promises strict action, says outsiders won’t be allowed to disturb peace „„Legislative ambiguharm social harmony ities, inconsistent „„Digital platforms enforcement have acceleratKEY weaken effeced spread of FINDINGS hate speech, tiveness of hate speech laws OF THE creating new „„There is persocio-legal STUDY sistent tension challenges between freedom „„Judiciary plays of speech and regulacrucial role, emphasizing tion of hate speech responsible use of free „„Freedom of speech and speech hate speech regulation are „„Need for clearer laws, interconnected stronger institutions, better „„Unchecked speech can enforcement observes that “the enforcement of hate speech laws often remains inconsistent,” with gaps between judicial intent and implementation. Highlighting the core issue, the study notes that “the tension between the right to freedom of speech and the need to regulate hate speech constitutes a persistent challenge in democratic societies,” adding that in India this is further complicated by its “profound cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity.” At a broader level, the paper stresses that “freedom of speech and the regulation of hate speech represent two sides of the same constitutional coin,” warning that unchecked expression can “undermine civic coexistence and >Continued on P9 Members of the local fishing communities and citizens in general, cutting across political and party lines, assembled at the police station to lodge their complaints against the accused. Sarpanchas of the village Panchayats of Colva Tereza Fernandes, Xavier Pereira (Benaulim), Flavia Barretto (Varca), Sandra Fernandes (Carmona), Dixon Vaz (Cavelossim), Simao Pereira (Orlim) besides the Zilla panchayat members joined the spontaneous protests. ON PAGE 2 SALCETE ERUPTS; PROTESTERS DEMAND KHATTAR’S ARREST WITHIN 48 HOURS COASTAL BELT RESIDENTS TURN OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS AT COLVA PS SHOW OF UNITY IN VASCO AS POLICE STEP IN TO CALM TEMPERS PROTESTERS DEMAND MAUVIN’S OUSTER, QUESTION MLAS’ SILENCE ANGER MOUNTS IN BARDEZ, RESIDENTS ISSUE DEADLINE FOR ARREST Church expresses deep pain, anguish PANAJI: The Church in Goa has expressed deep pain and anguish over the “hateful and malicious” remarks against St Francis Xavier made recently at a public function in Vasco. In an official statement, The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman stated that St Francis Xavier, affectionately known as the Gõycho Saib, is a saint loved and revered not only in Goa but by millions of people across the globe. ANJUNA A wave of anger and sharp criticism swept through Anjuna and surrounding areas over the incident. Congress workers and local villagers lodged formal complaints at the Anjuna, Mapusa, Calangute and Saligao police stations, demanding his immediate arrest. Tensions escalated in Anjuna, where villagers issued a stern ultimatum to the State government: arrest Khattar >Continued on P9 PANAJI Amid a row triggered by a right-wing activist’s remarks against Goa’s patron saint, St Francis Xavier, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday asserted that the government will not allow any outsider to disturb the State’s communal harmony. Speaking to media persons, Sawant confirmed that an FIR has been registered against spiritual thinker Gautam Khattar in connection with the derogatory remarks. “An inquiry will be conducted and strict action will be taken,” he said. The Chief Minister cautioned organisers of public events to ensure that invited speakers refrain from making statements that could disrupt communal harmony. “Speakers coming from outside Goa must be cautioned against making any remarks that could disturb the State’s communal harmony,” he said. Emphasising the need for preventive measures, Sawant said organisers have a responsibility to properly brief and >Continued on P9 Mauvin breaks silence after 2 days, slams controversial remarks PANAJI: Two days after the incident, Minister Mauvin Godinho broke his silence condemning the remarks, stating that they appeared to be an attempt to create communal tension and spread hatred in the State. “Such statements can ignite conflict on religious lines. However, Goans will not fall prey to such attempts,” he said.  >> See pg 3 Goa must guard against ‘khattar-nak’ divisive narratives >> See Edit pg 4 Cops mobilise special team, widen net to trace Khattar SP KADAM SAYS ACCUSED HAS LEFT GOA THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Stating that police have initiated steps to trace Gautam Khattar in connection with derogatory remarks he had made against St Francis Xavier during a recent event in Vasco, Superintendent of Police Gurudas Kadam on Monday said the Vasco police have decided to send a team to trace him. Speaking to reporters, SP Kadam said Vasco police had already registered a FIR based on a complaint submitted by Cortalim Congress leader Peter D’Souza. “During the course of investigation, it was found that the main accused, Gautam Khattar, had already left Goa before the case was registered. He said that police have initiated steps to trace him and further investigation is underway,” said SP Kadam. He further informed that multiple complaints have SP KADAM SPEAKS OUT „„Main accused Gautam Khattar left Goa before the case was registered „„Police have begun efforts to trace him; investigation ongoing „„Six complaints received related to the same incident „„All complaints being examined together „„Public concern valid, but big gatherings can slow investigation „„Police following routine legal procedures been received in connection with the same incident, and police are examining them together as part of a consolidated probe. “We have received a total of six complaints on this issue, and all are being examined collectively as part of the investigation,” he said. Kadam also addressed the situation at the Vasco police station, where a large number of protestors had gathered earlier in the day demanding immediate action. He said that while the public has the right to express con- cern, such gatherings can affect the pace of investigation. “With people gathering in large numbers at the police station, it is not possible to provide instant solutions, and such situations can hamper the investigation. We are carrying out the routine legal process in this case,” Kadam said. Police are continuing with the probe, including recording statements of witnesses and verifying details related to the incident, while efforts are on to locate the accused. Tech-savvy fugitive in Saligao CAMPA works in Goa set to go high-tech with GIS WHAT GIS-BASED MONITORING ENTAILS double murder case arrested THE GOAN I NETWORK 5-MONTH SURVEILLANCE ENDS WITH BREAKTHROUGH THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Five months after a double murder in Saligao, the Goa Police said on Monday that they had arrested prime accused -- a tech-savvy -- who had eluded arrest for months, tracing him to Odisha through what officials described as a sustained, multi-State operation driven by technical surveillance and intelligence inputs. The accused, Jagannath Bhagat, a native of Odisha who had been living in Chhattisgarh, was apprehended in Cuttack after evading arrest since November 2025, when a local sound engineer and brother of a Trinamool Congress leader, and his associate were found dead inside a rented house in Saligao. Addressing a press conference on Monday, SP Rahul Gupta described him as technologically adept and capable of avoiding detection for months. Details shared by the officer revealed that Bhagat had training in basic electronics, computer hardware and networking in Odisha, chip-level mobile and laptop repair in Karol Bagh, Delhi, and motor rewinding. SP Gupta said Bhagat was brought to Goa in October 2025 by one of the victims, Abhishek Gupta, after responding to an online advertisement for work. Bhagat had been employed to provide technical services to local establishments on a monthly salary. >Continued on P9 PANAJI he Goa Forest Department is set to adopt a GISbased monitoring system for works undertaken using CAMPA funds, in line with a new framework proposed by the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The initiative is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the utilisation of CAMPA funds, while enabling real-time tracking of forest-related interventions across the state. Officials said the proposed system will focus on ecologically sensitive and priority are- T „„Focus areas to be ecologically sensitive zones — mangroves, Western Ghats stretches, and mining-degraded forest land „„To have centralized digital database plus GIS framework to track all CAMPA-funded works „„To combine satellite imagery, field inputs, and geospatial datasets „„Will track progress of ANR, artificial regeneration, and other silvicultural operations „„Key outputs include spatial mapping, continu- ous monitoring, implementation tracking, and impact assessment „„Goal is to improve oversight of afforestation/ restoration and enable evidence-based decisions with timely updates for course correction as in Goa, including mangrove ecosystems, stretches of the Western Ghats, and forest land degraded due to past mining activities. By integrating satellite imagery, field inputs, and geospatial datasets, the platform will allow authorities to monitor the progress and effectiveness of activities such as Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), artificial regeneration, and other silvicultural operations. “In order to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and planning of sustainable activities like ecological restoration and wildlife management under CAMPA, it is proposed to develop a centralized geospatial database and GIS-based monitoring framework. The system will integrate spatial and non-spatial data related to activities undertaken and facilitate spatial tracking, monitoring of implementation progress, and assessment,” an official said. The GIS-based framework aims to create a centralized digital database of all CAMPA-supported works, enabling spatial mapping and continuous monitoring of projects. This is expected to improve oversight of afforestation and restoration efforts, particularly in mining-affected regions such as Sanguem, Quepem, and Bicholim. Sources said the system will also support evidence-based >Continued on P9