log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline >P12 THURSDAY DECEMBER 5, 2024 CYBER TECH The Human Element in Cybercrime: Addressing behavioural vulnerabilities >> See PG 7 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.168 Political intimidation? Five masked Salcete’s lifeline River Sal chosen men assault ex-Mandrem sarpanch for R-Day tribute  ATTACK LINKED TO VICTIM’S ASSOCIATION WITH CALANGUTE MLA  LEADERS, Water collected to be taken to LOCALS DEMAND ARREST OF ACCUSED WITHIN 24 HOURS  PI TRANSFERRED National War Memorial in Delhi THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See PG 3 Not a brick is laid over a year after CCP held ‘shilayans’ for new headquarters IN SHORT >> Pvt university: Fraud plaint filed against comunidade officials MAPUSA: The land deal between the Tivim Comunidade and a Pune-based private university is growing increasingly contentious, as gaunkars and villagers have lodged a complaint with the Colvale Police against the managing committee members and the escrivão.   >> See pg 3 22-yr-old youth electrocuted MARGAO: In a tragic incident, a 22-year old youth was electrocuted to death at Rumdamol village on late Wednesday evening. Maina-Curtorim police has informed that incident happened at the local temple at Rumdamol when Aniket Naik had gone to replace and change a tube light. He is believed to have replaced the tube light, but got electrocuted when he was adjusting the tube. Driver dies in Verna truck accident VASCO: A container truck accident late Tuesday night claimed the life of its driver, Altaf Basheer (45) of Jijamata Chowk, Maharashtra. The incident occurred on the road leading from Markson Company to Lupin Company in IDC Verna at around 11 pm.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 29 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 72% TIDES Low: 07:44 High: 02:12 19:31 12:54 PERNEM In what is believed to have been a politically motivated attack, former Mandrem sarpanch Mahesh Konadkar, who has been linked to Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, was assaulted by five unidentified persons at Askawada-Mandrem on Wednesday. This incident sparked off widespread anger in Pernem taluka, as leaders and residents condemned the assault and demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the assault on the former sarpanch within 24 hours, failing which there would be a law and order problem. Mandrem police later registered a case in connection with the attack on former sarpanch Mahesh Konadkar Fadnavis to take oath as Maha CM today; no clarity on Shinde’s role PTI MUMBAI After over two weeks of intense negotiations, BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis is set to be swornin as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday at a grand ceremony in Azad Maidan here, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. In addition to Fadnavis, two deputy chief ministers, including NCP leader Ajit Pawar, will also take their oaths during the event in south Mumbai. While the formation of the government under Fadnavis is confirmed, uncertainty remains regarding whether outgoing chief minister Eknath Shinde will be included in the new ministry. Fadnavis, 54, emerged as the frontrunner for the coveted post following the BJP's strong showing in the recent assembly elections. On Wednesday, Fadnavis, joined by Shinde and Pawar, met with state Governor CP Radhakrishnan to formally stake claim to form the government. and in a related development, the police inspector was also transferred out of the police station. THE INCIDENT According to sources, five persons wearing masks confronted Konadkar and assaulted him with an iron rod, after accusing Konadkar of aligning with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. Lobo had been recently asked if he would be interested in contesting assembly elections from Mandrem constituency and since then, there had been speculations in this direction. Konadkar was later shifted to the Tuem hospital and then referred to the Mapusa District Hospital for further treatment. On receiving news of the attack, Calangute MLA Michael Former Mandrem sarpanch Mahesh Konadkar, who was attacked on Wednesday, receives treatment in hospital.  Lobo, former Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte, Mandrem Sarpanch Miguel Fernandes, former sarpanchas Advocate Amit Sawant, Prashant alias Bala Naik, Pradeep Hadfadkar, Bhushan alias Pradeep Naik and others rushed to the hospital to enquire about his condition. THE REACTION The assault on the former sarpanch sparked off anger among leaders and residents alike. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo warned that if the accused involved in the assault were not arrested within 24 hours, he would go to the chief minister’s residence at Altinho-Panaji along with residents of Mandrem and sit there to demand justice. He also demanded that the case be handed over to the Crime Branch. Former Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte condemned the assault as a cowardly act and said this indicates that the law and order situation in Mandrem is not good. “Police should act swiftly and book the accused involved in this assault,” said Romeo Lane dismantles illegal beach structure overnight CLUB SWINGS INTO ACTION AFTER ‘THE GOAN’ REPORTED THE ILLEGAL RECONSTRUCTION THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Under intense pressure after reports of illegal construction surfaced, the controversial restaurant and club, Romeo Lane in Anjuna, has once again demolished a wooden structure that extended into the sea. The club, already under scrutiny for multiple violations, faced backlash for reconstructing the encroaching structure on land owned by the Tourism Department. Despite being reprimanded by various authorities and the High Court, Romeo Lane defiantly rebuilt the structure, only to dismantle it overnight amid mounting criticism. “This is a blatant disregard for the law and the environment. They keep rebuilding despite repeated demolitions and clear orders from the court. It’s as if they’re mocking the system,” a local resident said. This marks the second time in three months that Romeo Lane has demolished an ille- PANAJI n a bid to provide exposure to skill education using experiential learning pedagogy and to make learning at schools joyful and stress free, the schools in Goa are directed to implement 10-days bagless period for students of Class VI for the academic year. The Education department through the Goa Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan has issued detailed guidelines to the schools, in lines with those issued by the National Council of Education, Research and Training (NCERT), as proposed I The students are encouraged to adopt practice-based activity like carpentry, pottery, electrical work, and gardening apart from conducting interactive sessions with local artisans and craftsmen, to learn about their businesses, and gain understanding of various concepts and traditions, while appreciating the importance of preserving heritage in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Speaking to The Goan, Director Education Shailesh Zingade said that though, the Union Ministry for Education, has proposed introducing 10 ‘bagless' days for students of classes VI to VIII, in Goa, in the first phase, we have gone ahead with only Class VI student across all government-run schools. “We want to go in phase manner,” he said. Zingade said that Goa Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan has >Continued on P5 THE TENSION A number of residents marched to Mandrem police station demanding the arrest of the five accused within 24 hours, failing which there would be a law and order problem in the area and the government would be held >Continued on P5 Illegal sand mining needs to be curbed: SC NEW DELHI: Terming illegal rampant sand mining as serious, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said such activities needed to be effectively dealt with and asked five states to provide facts and figures on the issue. >> See pg 9 THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Commanding Officer of Goa NCC, Col Jesus Furtado, and cadets descended on the banks of the River Sal at Assolna on Wednesday, but for a unique reason. While the Indian Navy Ship INS Tarangini was docked at Mormugao Port, Col Jesus and his NCC cadets arrived at Assolna to collect water from the River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete, to carry it to the National War Memorial in Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations. This is perhaps the first time water from a river in Goa is being collected and taken to the National War Memorial. Among all the rivers in Goa, the River Sal has been chosen by the Defence Ministry and the Director General of NCC for its cultural and historical significance. Its water will be carried to the National War Memorial during the Republic Day celebrations in January 2025. The water collected from the River Sal was blessed by priests from the Assolna Church and the local temple in the presence of the village sarpanch, Ivan Fernandes, and others. On Thursday, Col Jesus and the NCC cadets will hand NCC cadets carrying the water from the River Sal at Assolna on Wednesday. Cultural & historical importance „„Col Jesus recalled that River Sal once served as a major route for importing Mangalore tiles into Goa at Khareband „„The River Sal has not only provided a variety of fish for local fishermen but also acted as a key transportation route for tiles and other goods centuries ago over the utensil containing the water from the River Sal to officers aboard the Indian Navy ship INS Tarangini at >Continued on P5 SECOND PRINT ORDER NOW IN STOCK ALL IN A NIGHT’S WORK: The Romeo Lane club has once again demolished the entire wooden structure allegedly built illegally, extending into the sea. gal structure at the same site. The initial demolition followed public outrage and legal intervention, but locals say the club’s proponents continue to flout regulations. “They were at it late into the night,” another resident noted. “It’s clear they were trying to avoid further legal action or public protests by dismantling the structure before authorities could intervene,” he added. The Goan on Tuesday had reported the audacious move of the controversial beachside club to once again allegedly construct an unauthorised wooden structure extending into the sea. The issue highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing coastal regulations and curbing illegal constructions that threaten the region’s fragile ecosystem. Authorities have yet to comment on the latest demolition or any potential penalties for repeated violations. and humidity to Goa Learning beyond the classroom! Sopte. The Mandrem Panchayat also stated that it would not remain silent if the assailants were not arrested within 24 hours. Sarpanch Miguel Fernandes said the entire panchayat will stand with Konadkar and ensure that he gets justice. “If politics is to be done through such an incident, we will not tolerate it. We strongly condemn this incident,” said Fernandes. FIRST BATCH SOLD... Schools to adopt 10 ‘bagless’ Easterly winds disrupt winter chill, bring heat days for Class VI students THE GOAN I NETWORK INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE: FC GOA BEATS HYDERABAD 2-0 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 IMD PREDICTS SPELL TO LAST FOR 5 DAYS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI From the pleasant winter mornings with a soft and cool breeze to uncomfortably hot and humid conditions – even during early mornings and late evenings, Goa’s weather has taken an abrupt turn. However, this change is not attributed to Cyclone Fengal but to the dominance of easterly winds over the usual northerly winds. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa has forecasted that the current hot and humid spell will persist for at least five days before the coastal State transitions back to winter winds. “As forecasted earlier, there is an increase in minimum temperature due to strong winds moving from east to west (easterly winds) dominating the cold winds approaching from north direction (northerly winds). This >Continued on P5 A SPECIAL EDITION BOOK FEATURING…  Messages, reflections from the Pope, 2 Cardinals, 1 Archbishop and 1 Auxiliary Bishop  25 Articles on the influence of St Francis Xavier  21 Fascinating details pertaining to St Francis Xavier  86 Photos, 57 Images, including 28 photos/images from 8 Expositions BOOKS AT OLD GOA & SELECT OUTLETS F O R E N Q U I R I E S, CO N TAC T Melvyn Misquita | PH: 9860597117 TO B O O K / BU Y CO P I E S, CO N TAC T Mukesh Sharma AREA: Tiswadi, Mormugao PH: 8698939778 Vijay Mangale AREA: Bardez, Pernem PH: 9075760380 Vishal Gad AREA: Bicholim, Sattari, Ponda, Dharbandora PH: 9423398413 ASHFAQ SHAIKH AREA: Sindhudurg Ph: 94224 34496 Mangesh Desai AREA: Salcete, Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona PH: 9922582700