log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY MAY 15, 2026 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 327 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 Huge rush for constable jobs; engineers, lawyers in queue Pollution watchdog confirms untreated sewage entering River Sal GOA State forms taluka-level SITs to identify, reclaim reserved forest land International Day of Families: A family beyond biology OVER 24,500 APPLY FOR 479 VACANCIES IN POLICE DEPT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The craze for government jobs was once again evident -- this time in the latest police recruitment, where a sizeable number of engineers, lawyers and postgraduates figured among thousands of applicants seeking selection as police constables. Over 24,500 aspirants have applied for 479 vacancies in the Goa police, taking the competition to nearly 51 candidates for a single post. Despite the minimum eligibility being Higher Secondary education, police sources said the applicant list features degree holders, diploma engineers, graduates and legal professionals. The recruitment process, being conducted through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC), will begin with a Computer-Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) this week. Candidates shortlisted in the examination will proceed to the subsequent stages of selection. The ongoing drive includes Page 8 How daily driving habits are wasting fuel across India Audi SQ8 blends luxury with brutal V8 performance IN SHORT >> Archdiocese makes clergy appointments PANAJI: Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrão has announced a series of appointments for the pastoral year 2026–27 in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. The appointments include Parish Priests, Parochial Administrators, Chaplains, Assistants to Parish Priests, Priests-onthe-Staff and other pastoral assignments across the archdiocese. >> See pg 5 EC rolls out SIR phase-3 in 16 States NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday rolled out phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 States and three Union Territories involving 36.73 crore voters in a staggered manner beginning May 30. Woman gang-raped in Delhi bus NEW DELHI: Recalling the horrors of the 2012 Nirbhaya case, a 30-year-old woman was allegedly dragged inside a private sleeper bus and raped by the driver and conductor in northwest Delhi's Mangolpuri area, police said on Thursday. The two men have been arrested.   >> See pg 7 Satheesan named new Kerala CM KOCHI: The Congress on Thursday named V D Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala, ending days of suspense and speculation over the post. The decision was announced here at a press conference by AICC in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunsi.   >> See pg 9 CRAZE FOR GOVT JOBS CONTINUES „„Thousands of aspirants in fray for police jobs „„Approximately 51 applicants competing for every post „„Min qualification required Higher Secondary education „„Applicants include graduates, diploma engineers, degree holders, legal professionals „„Recruitment being conducted by GSSC „„Selection process starts with Computer-Based Recruitment Test „„Shortlisted candidates will move to further selection stages „„Police currently face shortage of over 1,000 staff „„Total vacancies in the dept stand at 1,036 across different ranks „„Staffing shortage increased over last 5 years „„Retirements, resignations, attrition key reasons recruitment for 360 male police constables, 119 female police constables, 111 police drivers (Grade III), 60 wardens, 23 round foresters, 13 range forest officers and nine forest guards. The massive response has simultaneously drawn attention to the manpower shortage within the department, where more than 1,000 posts are currently lying vacant. Government records show that the department presently has 1,036 vacancies across various ranks. Of these, 860 Group ‘C’ posts that arose till December 31, 2025, have al- ready been uploaded on the GSSC website for direct recruitment, while another 43 vacancies arising after January 1, 2026, are expected to be notified next year. The records further state that 33 Group ‘B’ vacancies meant for direct recruitment and deputation have already been conveyed to the Goa Public Service Commission, while one remaining vacancy will be forwarded shortly. The staffing crunch has been building over the last five years due to retirements, resignations and attrition within the force. Official fig- ures show that 102 personnel retired in 2024 and another 69 retired in 2025, while attrition due to deaths, dismissals and other causes accounted for 30 cases in 2024 and 22 in 2025. One resignation in 2025 and four in 2024 were also recorded. Among the most severe shortages are posts carrying 100 percent vacancy, including Additional Director General of Police, Dy Director (Administration), Police Inspector (Armourer), Police Inspector (Wireless), Police Sub-Inspector (Cipher), Female Nurse, Language Teach- 6 LIFE er and several technical and other related posts. The force is also grappling with a 36 percent vacancy in Police Sub-Inspector posts and 28 percent vacancies among female PSIs. Other shortages comprise 64 percent vacancies in Mechanic Grade-II posts, 80 percent in Cobbler (Mochi) posts, and 28 percent vacancies among Police Constable Drivers (Grade III). Police Constable vacancies currently stand at 11 percent, while several specialised constable categories, including Constable (Seacunny), Constable (Engine Driver) and Police Constable (Sweeper), are either heavily understaffed or completely vacant. The shortage of Police Sub-Inspectors has emerged as another major concern, with around 157 PSI posts lying vacant across the State. Police stations in Panaji, Pernem and Agassaim are among the worst affected. Amid these, Goa’s police-population ratio presently stands at 571 police personnel per one lakh population. IPL: Punjab crashes to fifth consecutive loss States roll out austerity steps after Modi’s call Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura adopt cost-cutting measures, work from home PTI NEW DELHI Amid a nationwide push for austerity and administrative efficiency following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for reduced government expenditure, several States have begun implementing cost-cutting measures, with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announcing two days SAWANT JOINS PM’S AUSTERITY PUSH WITH CONVOY CUT >> See pg 3 of work-from-home for government offices and a minimum-use vehicle policy, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet recommending measures such as online classes, downsizing convoys, curbing special flights, while Tripura enforced 50% work-from-home for government employees. Gupta was the first to announce a slew of measures, including two days of ''work from home'' for government offices, use of metro trains Goa imposes ban on official foreign trips PANAJI: In line with the Prime Minister’s recent appeal on austerity measures, the Goa government on Thursday imposed an immediate ban on all official foreign visits by public servants that are funded wholly or partially by the government exchequer. The decision was announced through an Office Memorandum issued by Under Secretary Finance Naresh Gaude. The government also cancelled all approvals already granted for official foreign visits with immediate effect. “Further, all approvals granted for official foreign visits shall stand cancelled with immediate effect,” the memorandum stated. The restrictions have come into force immediately and will remain in effect until further orders. on Mondays by ministers and officers, and a voluntary ''no-vehicle day'' every week. She said all Delhi government offices will follow WFH two days a week and that the private sector will also be requested to follow it. The Andhra Pradesh cabinet also announced no vehicle day, online classes, downsizing convoys, reducing special flights and foreign tours, and deferring Noose tightens in Curchorem sex case, 2 chargesheets filed PANAJI The Crime Branch (CB) has filed two chargesheets against Soham Naik, son of BJPbacked councillor Sushant Naik, in the sensational Curchorem sex scandal, while a third chargesheet in the earliest FIR is expected shortly. Sources told The Goan that the CB teams have relied heavily on forensic and medical evidence, including allegedly recovered deleted videos, photographs and mobile data. In one of the cases, the CB filed a 158-page report before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), naming 19 witnesses. Since both the accused and the victim were minors at the time of the alleged offence, the filing has been made in the form of a juvenile report instead of a regular chargesheet, sources said. "The victim was a Class X student when she came in contact with Soham through social media. The two allegedly developed friendship, following which Naik is accused of sexually exploiting her and „„Investigation „„Mobile forensic relied heavily on evidence exCRIME forensic, mediamined at FSL BRANCH cal evidence attached SLEUTHS IN „„140-page „„InvestigaACTION tors recovered chargesheet deleted videos, filed in second photographs, case mobile data „„Chargesheet includes „„158-page report to the statements from 25 Juvenile Justice Board witnesses. „„Report named 19 „„Electronic, documentary witnesses evidence submitted allegedly filming the obscene act. The medical evidence has confirmed sexual assault and forms a crucial part of the evidence collected against him,” the source revealed. The alleged incident took place in Curchorem. Sources added that the CB has also attached mobile forensic evidence retrieved after examination at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Verna. With Soham being a minor at the time, it will now be for the JJB to decide whether the matter should continue before the juvenile forum at Apna Ghar or be transferred for trial before a regular court. In the second case, the CB has filed a 140-page chargesheet supported by 25 witnesses and similar electronic and documentary evidence. Sources further stated that the first FIR initially registered at the Curchorem police station and later transferred to the CB is also in the final stages of investigation and is likely to be chargesheeted shortly. >Continued on P9 PTI RED & HOT: A family dries red chillies on the outskirts of Panaji on Thursday as households prepare for the approaching monsoon by stocking up dried fish, onions and other essentials.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Govt okays salary, pension boost for C-class municipal employees THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major relief for employees of economically weaker municipal councils, the Directorate of Urban Development has announced salary and pension grants to the employees and retired staff of C-class municipalities in Goa. There are a total three ‘C’ Class Municipalities --Valpoi, Sanguem and Pernem. The scheme, titled “Grant of Financial Assistance to Economically Weaker ‘C’ Class Municipal Councils for Strengthening the Administration Scheme, 2026”, has come into force with immediate effect and will remain Veggie prices burn bigger holes in family budgets THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI rices of vegetables in Panaji markets which had been climbing sharply over the last few days are showing no signs of easing adding to the strain on household budgets already hit by rising fuel and essential commodity costs. Traders and wholesalers are blaming the sudden spike to reduced supply, possibly due to transportation linked issues as Goa is dependent on imports from neigbouring States. French beans which had more than doubled to Rs 250 a kilo at the start of the week eased a bit to Rs 200 but gin- VEGETABLE PRICES P French beans: Rs 200 Ginger: Rs 300 Garlic: Rs 200–400 Lemons: Rs 10 each Tomatoes: Rs 60 Potatoes: Rs 50 ger has stayed at a whopping Rs 300 a kilo. Garlic too has shot up and has remained in the Rs 200-400 a kilo depending on quality. Lemons, which are often used in peak summer heat to make soothing drinks like limboo-paani and limboo-soda, are at Rs 10 apiece. Tomatoes have also risen and are being quoted at Rs 60 a kilo easing from the Rs 65 at the start of the week. Potatoes increased by Rs 10 to Rs 50 a kilo and a bunch of coriander earlier sold for Rs 25 is now being quoted for Rs 40. Onions are quoted at Rs 45 per kilo and other vegetables gold purchases as some some of the measures to ward off the economic headwinds emanating from the Gulf war. Work from home, using public transport, virtual meetings and monitoring fuel consumption were the other recommendations. The Tripura government ordered the implementation of a 50% work-from-home policy for its employees. Death toll in rain-hit UP rises to 111 THIRD CHARGESHEET ON THE CARDS THE GOAN I NETWORK 14 SPORTS like lady finger (okra), ridge gourd, carrots, bitter gourd and cluster beans are stable at Rs 80 a kilo. Brinjal (eggplant) and cucumber were Rs 50, but larger brinjals were priced higher at Rs 70. Green chillies were at Rs 80 a kilo, capsicum touched Rs Coriander: Rs 40/bunch Onions: Rs 45 Okra, ridge gourd, carrots: Rs 80 Brinjal & cucumber: Rs 50 Green chillies: Rs 80 Capsicum: Rs 130 *Price per kg 130 a kilo. Traders and wholesalers in the Panaji market said the prices are likely to remain on the higher side for some days. Seasonal fruits too are being quoted at higher levels. The Malcorado mango season >Continued on P9 valid for a period of five years. Under the scheme, the State government will provide grants of up to Rs 50 lakh annually towards payment of staff salaries and up to Rs 25 lakh annually towards pensionary benefits for retired employees. The move aims to >Continued on P9 LUCKNOW At least 111 people were killed and 72 injured after a strong storm and heavy rain pounded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, uprooting trees and damaging houses, an official statement said on Thursday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the loss of lives and damage caused by the unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and lightning on Wednesday and directed officials to ensure relief reaches the affected families within 24 hours. In a statement, the Relief Commissioner's office said, “Due to bad weather on May 13, including storms, rain, hailstorm and lightning, reports of 111 deaths were received from 26 districts. 72 persons were injured, 170 livestock losses and damage to 227 houses have been reported in the state.” It said Adityanath has directed all divisional commissioners and district magistrates to verify the incidents “with full sensitivity” and ensure financial assistance is distributed to affected families. >> See pg 9 HC stays proceedings into mining auction THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court at Goa has stayed further proceedings in the online auction of the Cavorem-Maina Mineral Block No XVIII till the next hearing after a bidder alleged that technical glitches prevented it from participating fully in the bidding process. A mining company approached the Court claiming that while the auction allowed an eight-minute window to place and revise bids, technical issues cropped up after the first two minutes, preventing it from submitting further bids and potentially affecting the final outcome. Hearing the plea, the Court observed that mining rights are valuable State resources and noted that if the allegations were found to be true, the State exchequer could suffer losses due to the absence of a potentially higher bid. Finding prima facie merit in the petitioner’s grievance, the Court directed the government to maintain status quo and restrained authorities from taking any further steps in the auction process. The petitioner was also permitted to implead the highest bidder as a party to the case.