SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Crime detection in quick time
The Vasco police reportedly arrested within 24 hours two accused persons from Maharashtra allegedly involved in kidnapping an 11-month-old baby from the port town. It is learnt that a woman from Karnataka and living on the footpath at Vasco lodged a complaint at the Vasco police station stating that two persons, both residing on the footpath kidnapped her 11-month-old son.
In another incident the Old Goa police registered a chain-snatching case against two persons. It is understood that according to the complaint filed by the woman two unknown persons came on a scooter and snatched a gold chain worth about Rs one lakh and fled away. The police traced and arrested the accused within 24 hours of registration of the offence and recovered two gold chains and a two-wheeler used for carrying out the theft.
The police need to be complimented for solving both the kidnapping and the chain-snatching cases within a short period of just 24 hours. Such competence on the part of the police force instills great confidence in the citizens. It can also serve as a deterrent for anti-social elements to carry out criminal activities.
Crime detection in quick time plays an important role in keeping the crime graph down. This in turn helps the common man live without fear. It would be in the fitness of things for the authorities to acknowledge the competence of these police personnel and felicitate them.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
In unity lies our strength
The current ongoing needless debate in Goa on who should and can contest elections is an exercise in futility diverting our attention from reality - the pressing problems our now very cosmopolitan State is grappling with. We are all part of our great Indian nation known as the world’s biggest democracy.
The law is very clear on who can contest elections and who can vote. As long as one meets the laid down criteria, all this loose talk going on is a sheer waste of time. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we are all proud citizens of our huge nation known for its Unity in Diversity. Unity is strength. Division is a weakness! Where there is unity, teamwork and collaboration, wonders can be achieved.
Let us not be carried away by this worthless talk of caste, creed and domicile politics which will only divide us further while our Nation needs to be a unified force. The choice of our leaders should always be based on merit, knowledge, experience and ability they have and are prepared to apply for the benefit of others with total integrity.
We should heed the wise words of the late Henry Ford, an industrialist and business magnate who said ‘Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress; working together is success’.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Heart breaking tragedy
The shocking fire accident in Delhi is really heartbreaking with so many lives succumbing to the unexpected inferno. The timely intervention of the fire brigade has helped rescue many people who were at that time in the building. The cause of the fire in the three-storeyed building is not known but authorities state that one reason could be an electrical short circuit. Investigations are going on to find out the cause.
Each and every time an incident like this happens we make a big hue and cry, become extra aware, go in for all sorts of campaigns and compensations and talk about prevention methods and so and as days roll on we are back to square one - we completely forget and wake up when another tragedy occurs. Lack of preparedness, readiness to tackle fire accidents - be it due to short circuit or any other sort - and lack of awareness on what to do in case of such incidents make us victims to infernos.
The death of so many people charred to death again pose a big question - when are we really going to learn our lessons? Be it hospitals or hotels, office buildings, movie halls or malls, people may not have the slightest bit of idea about the escape routes, lay outs and other possible ways of escape in case of an inferno. Staff of the concerned establishments should be prepared to rescue or at least guide the guests to safety. Buildings should have a common way to exit that any one irrespective of age and gender should be able to identify and escape immediately. Big buildings should have proper fire and electricity safety devices and these must be checked occasionally. Staff especially in sensitive places like hospitals, schools and hotels should take part in mock drills and be ever ready in case of emergency. Schools and colleges should include fire disaster management lessons in their physical education curriculum so that we can groom citizens who can face such emergencies boldly, wisely and bravely and even help the weak and those who are very young.
M Pradyu, Kannur
KRC needs to respect Konkani
The Google has given due respect to Konkani language using a translator to translate English to Konkani on Google is a great sign as it has given importance to Konkani but our very own Konkan Railway Corporation doesn't give due respect to Konkani language preference is given to local language whichever State you go in India you travel by Indian railway as the bogie position and arrival departure of the train to and fro the stations are announced in local language first then the other languages but I was shocked to hear the coach position of Konkan Kanya train at Karmali railway station announced in this order Marathi first second Hindi and last English and no announcement done in Konkani but the only announcement done is which platform the train will halt is done in Konkani.
When I enquired with the station master why our official language Konkani is not used the answer was that they cannot play four languages. Why is this discrimination of Konkani language in Goa when the local language is Konkani I don't understand the logic behind it when all over India I have travelled by train I have always seen that local language is given first priority I don't know about other stations in Goa if they are following the above mentioned pattern of announcement like Karmali. I think that all the stations the same is prevailing which need to be corrected at the earliest to give an uniformity as done in other states of India.
It's time that the Konkani academy or Konkani Bhasha Mandals should intervene and ask the Konkan Railway Corporation to look into the matter and stop the step motherly treatment given to our mother tongue the official language of Goa as Marathi is given importance in Maharashtra as it is the official language so in Goa it should be Konkani. Also the Goa government should direct the railway authorities to do the necessary changes to protect Goem, Goemkar and Goenkarponn.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Tomato fever
Just after battling with Corona virus or Covid-19 a new virus has come into picture and is Tomato Fever which has spread in Kerala State. The fever attacks young children with red rashes or marks on palms, body and gets fever. The said fever is in the children below the age of 5 yrs. One has to be careful in daily routine and take care to change the pillows and bed sheets everyday with more hygiene to follow.
The health centre has also warned about the spread of virus. So far there is no news of any vaccine or drugs for the same but one has to take care. Hope the said virus is not a serious problem and is just like any other virus which gets cured.
Raju Ramamurthy, Vasco da Gama
