log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2026 GOA SAVE GOA AND SAVE OUR PLANET: THE RISING ENVIRONMENTAL AWAKENING BUTTERMILK AND LASSI: COOLING CHOICES FOR BETTER DIGESTION IN SHORT >> Rane makes case for 100 more ambulances PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has said Goa urgently requires 100 new 108 ambulances to strengthen emergency medical services, adding that at least 50 additional vehicles would help streamline operations. Nearly 10 ambulances are often diverted for VIP duties, reducing availability for emergencies, he added.   >> See pg 2 5 held in late-night gambling raid MAPUSA: A late-night gambling raid in North Goa led to the arrest of five persons who were allegedly operating an illegal online betting racket from a private villa in Assagao. Acting on information, a police team conducted a raid between 1.30 am and 3.30 am at Villa No 2, La Stella Villas, Assagao. >> See pg 5 Fire breaks out at dairy farm VALPOI: A fire broke out once again at the government dairy farm at Coporde-Sattari, causing damage to biological resources and PVC pipes within the premises. The fire started suddenly in dry grass within the farm premises, which is under the purview of the animal husbandry department, at around 5 pm on Tuesday.  >> See pg 5 Goa swelters amid high temperatures PANAJI: Temperatures remained above 35°C across Goa over the past two days, with only a marginal dip expected from Wednesday. The humidity is expected to remain high, prompting the health department to issue an advisory on heat-related illnesses.  >> See pg 2 2 soldiers jailed for defacing Jesus statue DUBAI: Israel has jailed two of its soldiers for 30 days for vandalising a statue of Jesus Christ during operations in Lebanon. One soldier filmed another smashing the crucifix with a sledgehammer in a Lebanese village. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 35.8 C 26.5 C 86% TIDES Low: 07.54 20.46 High: 00.59 15.15 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 304 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 13 2 10 Goan diaspora unites across Khattar will be arrested continents, demands action within 2 days: Sawant South Goa comunidade building set for major facelift >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA INFO Siolim rises in protest against midnight felling of heritage trees How to get silky-smooth skin on your hands and arms SPORTS IPL: Abhishek Sharma's blazing ton powers SRH past DC Calls for Khattar arrest, accountability grow  POLICE TEAMS FAN OUT, FAIL TO FIND HIM AT HIS DEHRADUN HOUSE  TO ISSUE LOOK-OUT NOTICE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI/VASCO Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Gautam Khattar, the YouTuber at the centre of the controversy surrounding his derogatory speech targeting St Francis Xavier at a Sanathan event in Vasco, will be arrested within next two days. Sawant said police teams have already left the State to trace him and he will be arrested and brought back to the State. "No one will go scot free by hurting the sentiments of the people of Goa in this manner," said Sawant while speaking to video-journalists on the sidelines of a beach volleyball event at Miramar. An FIR has already been registered against Khattar, he said expressing confidence that the police will arrest him within two days and bring him to Goa. Meanwhile, multiple police teams have been Crime Branch to probe Khattar case PANAJI: Amid mounting outrage over alleged derogatory remarks against Goa’s patron saint, St Francis Xavier, the Goa Police on Tuesday transferred the case against spiritual thinker Gautam Khattar to the Crime Branch, even as multiple teams were formed to trace and arrest him. The transfer comes two days after the Vasco Police registered an FIR against Khattar under Sections 299 (outraging religious feelings) and 196 (promoting enmity) of the BNS on April 19, 2026. “The criminal case registered at Vasco Police Station stands transferred to Crime Branch Police Station with immediate effect for further investigation,” an order issued by Deputy Inspector General of Police Ved Prakash Surya stated.   >> See pg 3 deployed to trace and apprehend Khattar after he was booked for making derogatory remarks. According to highly placed sources, one police team was dispatched to Dehradun to track him down. The po- lice team reached Khattar's house but he was not present there. The police team is conducting further investigation with the assistance of Dehradun Police at the likely places of his visit. Goa police will soon issue a look-out notice across all airports to prevent him from leaving the country. The probe is now focusing on securing the presence of the accused and compiling all relevant evidence, including video footage and witness accounts, as authorities step up efforts to move the case forward. On Monday evening, Vasco police recorded detailed statements of key members of the Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti, the organising body of the event where the remarks were made. The statements covered the full sequence of events, including how the speech unfolded and the response from organisers present at the venue. Investigators gathered inputs on the planning of the programme, the invitation extended to the speaker, and the steps taken once the objectionable remarks were made on stage. These statements are expected to play a crucial role in establishing the chain of events and are likely to form part of the evidence, with the organisers expected to be cited as witnesses in the case. THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Anger over the alleged derogatory remarks against Goencho Saib – St Francis Xavier – has spilled far beyond Goa’s shores, with Goans living in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world coming together in protest, condemning the statements and demanding swift action against Gautam Khattar. In London, groups of Goans gathered in areas such as Hounslow and Heston, raising their voices in solidarity against what they described as an attack on their faith and identity. Coming together and invoking the legacy of Goa’s patron saint, the diaspora called for the immediate arrest of Khattar and accountability from those present at the event where the remarks were made. The controversy stems from a recent public event in Vasco where Khattar made offensive remarks about St Francis Xavier, deeply hurting religious sentiments. The presence of political leaders at the event, and their failure to intervene, has further fuelled outrage among Goans both in the State and overseas. For many in the diaspora, Traffic cops deny illegality in `3 crore fine collection ON PAGE 3 VIJAI WARNS OF MASS MOVEMENT; DEMANDS SACKING OF MAUVIN CURTORIM LOCALS STORM POLICE STATION, SEEK PROBE INTO MAUVIN’S ROLE MAPUSA CITIZENS FILE COMPLAINT, SEEK ARREST OF KHATTAR KHATTAR WAS NOT STATE GUEST: ORGANISERS CALANGUTE PANCHAYAT WARNS OF PROTEST OVER REMARKS AGAINST ST FRANCIS GOAN SETTLERS RISE UP IN PROTEST ACROSS UPPER GHAT REGION the issue goes beyond a single remark – it strikes at the heart of their cultural and spiritual identity. “We want to send a clear message to the Chief Minister that no matter where we live, our voice stands firmly with Goa,” said Agnes, who participated in the protest in Narayan Pissurlenkar SAY RULES FOLLOWED, CERTIFICATION NOT NEEDED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After nearly 10 days of silence over allegations surrounding the collection of traffic fines amounting to more than Rs 3 crore, the Traffic Police on Tuesday issued an official clarification, asserting that its enforcement drive did not breach any legal provision and that the certification requirement under Rule 167-A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, has no application to the manner in which challans are presently issued in Goa. In a press release issued from its headquarters at Altinho, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Prabodh Shirwaikar maintained that all challans in the State are issued manually by enforcement personnel after due verification of data captured through devices such as alcometers, speed radar guns and body-worn cameras, and not through any automated challan generation system. enforcement) does not apply „„Clarification responds to reports questioning legality of fines „„Rules for “million-plus” cities not applicable to Goa „„All fines collected digitally (UPI, cards, online) -- no cash collection BUT, QUESTIONS UNANSWERED „„Records show enforcement device certification obtained only on Feb 20, 2026 „„Timing raises questions about compliance before certification „„Clarification does not address use of mobile phones by traffic personnel „„Key issue of documenting violations and generating challans via phones remains unanswered “All challans are issued manually by enforcement personnel after due verification of data obtained from devices such as alcometers and speed radar guns. Therefore, the provisions relating to automated enforcement under >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 India ramps up PNG adoption with over 5 lakh new connections PTI POLICE CLARIFICATION „„Challans issued manually by traffic enforcement personnel „„Data verified using devices like alcometers, speed radar guns, and body cameras „„No automated challan system used in the State; Rule 167-A (automated London. “The accused must be arrested. Those who sat silently when our saint was insulted must also be held accountable,” she added. The sense of hurt was echoed by Ella, another protester in London, who said the incident had left many deeply distressed. “We are a peaceful community, but our patience should not be mistaken for weakness. Goa has always stood for communal harmony – Hindus, Muslims and Christians living as one – and we will not tolerate any attempt to divide us,” she said. The wave of protests was not limited to the UK. In Dublin, Ireland, members of the Goan community also came together, condemning the remarks and demanding strict action. Teotonio Costa said such incidents were part of a worrying pattern. “There have been attempts in the past to disturb communal harmony in Goa. The government must act decisively – not only against the speaker but also against those who organised the event,” he said. Voices of concern also emerged from elsewhere in DIVINE FIRE: Devotees light the Homkund of Lairai Devi at Shirgao on Tuesday. Wave of devotion sweeps Shirgao as thousands throng Lairai zatra THE GOAN I NETWORK BICHOLIM The annual Lairai Devi zatra which attracts lakhs of devotees began in a deeply spiritual and festive atmosphere at Shirgao on Tuesday. Thousands of devotees from across Goa and other States visited the temple throughout the day. Many performed ritual bath in the sacred pond before proceeding for darshan and seeking blessings. Among the large number of devotees visiting the temple and offering prayers to Goddess Lairai included Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who sought the blessings of Goddess Lairai for the health, prosperity, and well-being of the people of Goa and humanity at large. Speaking to the media after the darshan, he said that the administration has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the festival this year. In the wake of last year’s incident, authorities—including the police department, district administration, and other agencies—have been working for several months to ensure proper planning and execution. The Chief Minister appealed to devotees to cooperate with the administration and maintain discipline during the festivities, including the traditional fire-walking ritual. >Continued on P8 NEW DELHI India has accelerated its shift to piped natural gas, with more than 5.01 lakh new PNG connections gasified since March and over 5.68 lakh consumers registering for fresh connections, even as authorities manage LPG supplies amid geopolitical disruptions. With the war in West Asia disrupting cooking gas LPG supplies, the government is pushing households as well as industries to move to piped natural gas -- a more convenient alternative whose supplies have not been very badly hit. LPG users within the reach of a PNG connection have been asked to shift, while orders have been issued for expediting approvals for laying of pipelines that supply gas to burner tips. “Since March 2026, more than 5.01 lakh PNG connections have been gasified,” said Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, at a news briefing on Tuesday. 26 low-grade iron ore dumps Dark clouds hover over possible US-Iran talks to go under hammer in June Ceasefire deadline for deal ends today, PTI DMG ROLLS OUT TENDERS, URGES ONLINE REGISTRATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After a tepid response to its first e-auction of low-grade iron ore dumps, the State government has identified 26 additional dumps totalling 41.9 million tonnes for auction in June. The initial e-auction held in February saw limited participation from mining companies, with only one of the five identified dumps successfully auctioned. The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) on Tuesday announced that tender documents for the second phase are now live on the MSTC e-auction portal. “Prospective bidders are requested to register on the portal to participate. The paid tender document for each dump can be purchased for Rs 1 lakh separately,” the DMG stated. The identified dumps are located across Sanguem, Dharbandora, Sattari/Bicholim and Bardez talukas. The largest deposit estimated at 11.73 million tones is situated at the Sonus/Cudnem site in Sattari/ Bicholim. The e-auction is scheduled to be held from June 15 to 18. The Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) has been fixed at Rs 25 lakh for dumps between 2 and 5 million tonnes, and Rs 35 lakh for those exceeding 5 million tonnes. For smaller dumps, the EMD is Rs 5 lakh (below 1 million tonnes) and Rs 10 lakh (up to 1 million tonnes). Bank guarantees range from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 3 >Continued on P8 ISLAMABAD ast-minute ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran looked uncertain Tuesday as a two-week truce was set to expire and both countries warned that, without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting. US Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead US negotiators if talks continue in Pakistan, remained in Washington on Tuesday, a White House official said. And Pakistan, which has been urging both sides to return to Islamabad, said it was still awaiting confirmation on whether Iran would participate. Earlier in the day, two re- L Trump threatens to resume bombing WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to bomb Iran if they do not agree to a deal before the end of the two-week ceasefire on Wednesday. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday evening said his country was still waiting for a formal response from Iran. Underlining that the ceasefire ends at 4:50 am PST Wednesday, he said, “Decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire is critical.” Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying that no final decision has been made yet regarding participation in peace talks. gional officials said Washington and Tehran had signaled they would hold a second round of talks, with Vance leading the US team and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf as its top negotiator. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters. But Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said later Tuesday on X that Iran had not formally confirmed its participation, which was set to expire Wednesday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iran's state TV there has been “no final decision” on whether to attend because of “unacceptable actions” by the US, apparently referencing its recent blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Vance had policy meetings scheduled at the White House on Wednesday morning, said a White House official who was not authorized to speak pub- licly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The vice president's office and the White House did not immediately respond to messages asking whether Vance still intends to travel to Pakistan. Both sides remain dug in rhetorically. US President Donald Trump has warned that “lots of bombs” will “start going off” if there's no agreement before the ceasefire deadline, and Iran's chief negotiator said that Tehran has “new cards on the battlefield” that haven't yet been revealed. The ceasefire, which began April 8, could be extended if talks resume, though Trump said in an interview Tuesday with CNBC, “Well, I don't want to do that.”