Rampant land scams
must be stopped
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The ongoing land scams in Goa under the present government reveal that corruption has reached its peak. Government authorities seem to have no hesitation in approving dubious land deals, as they are themselves complicit in the system.
Can land ownership be claimed solely based on Form 1 & XIV without possessing old documents proving purchase, inheritance, or legal transfer? Some unscrupulous lawyers manipulate this process by preparing fraudulent title deeds using Form 1 & XIV as the sole legal document. How are such transactions even approved by the government?
To make matters worse, individuals are changing their names through unofficial means just to match the records in Form 1 & XIV. When queried under the RTI Act, crucial documents are often found to be missing. Shouldn’t the police and the registrar’s office take strict action against such fraudulent land sellers?
The government must step in immediately and ensure that any land sale where original sale deeds or inheritance records are not produced is flagged as fraudulent. Simply stating that Form 1 & XIV is not a legal document is not enough—any transactions based on it should be suspended. If such sales are allowed to proceed, the government must take responsibility as a guarantor, considering that many overseas Goans have had their land sold off illegally with the involvement of corrupt officials.
The Chief Minister must ensure that no sale deed is finalised unless all ownership documents are verified. Furthermore, a dedicated police officer must be appointed to investigate fraudulent land deals and hold the culprits accountable.
Gregory E D’Souza, Siolim
Helmets used as ‘weapons’
in road rage incidents
Calangute police have reportedly booked three tourists after a local taxi driver was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle vandalised in Naikavaddo on Wednesday evening. The tourists reportedly began attacking the taxi driver with helmets. Sensing the aggression, the driver fled the scene leaving the car behind. If not, he could have suffered injuries which could even have proved fatal.
The angry tourists then turned their fury on the vehicle, severely damaging it by smashing the windshield and rear glass using the helmets. Incidentally this is the second time in the past few weeks where tourists have used a helmet to attack a car driver. Two tourists from Nasik in Maharashtra reportedly assaulted a car driver with helmets at Sangolda.
Be that as it may, it appears that tourists are now using the helmet to attack locals in incidents of road rage. This must be the norm in other states to settle scores on the road by attacking with a helmet.
On the contrary, Goans settle an argument verbally following an accident but never resort to violence. Helmets having a very hard surface can definitely be used as a dangerous weapon to settle scores in incidents of road rage.
Recently there were reports of a 45-year-old man having succumbed to fatal head injuries after being allegedly attacked with a helmet by two unidentified bike-borne men in a road rage incident in Kharghar at Navi Mumbai. Helmets that are used in attacks need to be attached as evidence in the court of law.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Cybercrime on
the rise in Goa
Cybercrime in Goa has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years. According to National crime record bureau (NCRB) reports indicate a 300% rise in cyber fraud cases since 2020, with scams ranging from online banking frauds to phishing and identity theft. Despite multiple arrests, the conviction rate remains shockingly low, raising concerns about the effectiveness of our legal and investigative systems.
Goa is becoming a hub for cybercriminal activities. If left unchecked, this trend could severely impact the state’s reputation and citizens’ financial security. First, law enforcement agencies must receive advanced training in cyber forensics and tracking digital fraud. Second, our legal system must streamline the prosecution process to ensure swift convictions, setting a strong deterrent. Third, public awareness campaigns should educate citizens on identifying scams and reporting suspicious activities. Schools and colleges should also incorporate cyber safety education into their curriculum. Strengthening our legal, educational, and law enforcement frameworks is the only way to ensure Goa remains a safe place in the digital era.
Disha Vidhan Kenavdekar, Mapusa
The key to success
Denzel Washington once said, “You only live once, so do what you feel passionate about. Take chances professionally. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to fail big, or to dream big.”
But we need to remember that dreams without goals are just that… dreams, and they ultimately fuel disappointment. So have dreams, but have goals; weekly goals, yearly goals, monthly goals, daily goals. And understand that to achieve these goals, you must be disciplined, be consistent, persevere and work hard every day, not just on Mondays and Tuesdays. As Benjamin Franklin said, ” if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”
Hard work coupled with astute planning works wonders, talent alone is not enough to see you through. And neither can you depend on luck to attain success in life. The harder you work the luckier you will get. History is witness to the fact that working hard is the key to success.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Personal care
products pose risks
Consumers use a wide variety of cosmetics and personal care products. Cosmetics today have become an essential, unavoidable necessity to an increasing number of individuals. Many of the chemicals and contaminants in cosmetics and personal care products likely pose little risk, exposure to some has been linked to serious health problems, including cancer. Even permanent hair straightening treatments are a form of chemical processing for your hair. The dermatologist says that hair rebonding or straightening is like suicide for their hair.
The chemicals enter the body through the skin, inhalation, ingestion and internal use, and pose the same risks as food chemicals. Formaldehyde, toluene, lead acetate, parabens, bisphenol A, Para-Phenylenediamine (PPD) and other pollutants have been related to health issue. There needs a regulatory measures to safeguard public health and minimize the risks associated with these products.
K G Vilop, Chorao
