Govt slammed over rise in crimes
MARGAO: The Goa unit of Samajwadi Party Rohidas Baburao Shirodkar on Monday urged Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar to lay bare before Goan public the loans obtained by the government to fund the social welfare schemes.
The Samajwadi Party also slammed the government for the rising crime rate, including murders and rapes during the Parrikar regime.
Addressing the media, Shirodkar said the Parrikar government owe an explanation to the people of Goa on the amount of loan obtained by the dispensation since it came to power to fund the social welfare schemes. “The financial health of the state is in a critical condition. At the same time, the government is implementing the social welfare schemes. The people of Goa should know how the government is funding the scheme and whether loans are been obtained to finance the schemes”, he demanded.
On the mining front, Samajwadi chief said the government should place before the Surpreme Court the crisis facing the Goan economy on account of closure of mining in the state. “The four lakh odd mining dependent people have been going through an acute financial crisis. The government should place before the Supreme Court all facts and the problems being faced by the people of Goa”, he said.
He took a dig at the government for the disruption in the supply of building materials such as sand, metal, laterite stones, adding that building activity has come to a halt. He also called for a solution to acute parking problem plaguing the towns.
Trespass offence registered
MARGAO: Maina Curtorim police have registered a offence of trespass against former sarpanch Sophiya Sheik, Nissar Killedar, Yaya Pathan, Faiyaz Killedar and 8 others all from Rumdamol on complaint from Mohammad Aizaz of Rumdamol. Aizaz in his complaint alleged that the accused on Monday forcible entered his flat at Rumdamol which he had purchased from one Pasha by paying RS 25 lakh and that he was in the procession of the documents of the flats.
However, the accused alleged that the owner of the flat had also taken money from various persons with promise to sell the flat. Although a complaint of cheating has been registered against Pasha at Maina Curtorim police the accused is absconding. Further investigations are in progress.
Assault offence against brothers
MARGAO: An offence of assault has been registered against two brothers from Mugali, Nessai for allegedly assaulting husband of a panch on Monday. Simon John Faleiro in his complaint has accused Raison Monteiro and his brother Navidade of having assaulted him with fist blows, slaps and kicks which led to admitted in his hospitalisation. Maina CUrtorim police are investigation the case.
Scheme for poor senior citizens
MARGAO: Lamenting over the absence of government support to take up welfare measures for the senior citizens, the newly elected Committee of the Goa unit of the Forum for Senior Citizens of India on Monday disclosed plans to come out with a financial scheme for the poorest of the poor amongst the Senior citizens.
The new Committee also gave an insight into the pitiable conditions of many a senior citizen, with reports indicating that many are made to starve by their children, prompting the Forum to take up their cause before the district Collector under the Maintenance Act.
“Some of the senior citizens are literally made to starve by their dependents. Our grievances cell receive so many complaints from senior citizens complaining of starvation. We call the two parties for hearing, but then refer the matter to the district Collector if there is not agreement on the maintenance. The Collector must have given so many orders on maintenance of the senior citizens”, informed Forum’s President elect Diogo M Da Costa at a media briefing on Monday.
Action sought against presiding officer
MARGAO: Four members of the Dramapur-Sirlim panchayat on Monday called on the Salcete Block Development Officer, Manuel Barretto and demanded a probe and action against the Presiding officer for playing truant on the day of the election for the post of Sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
In their representation, the four members Domnick Norohna, Agostinho D’Costa, Bernardo Rebello and Netty Ferrao, strongly suspected that the Presiding officer Anuradha Sarang was influenced by unknown sources not to make herself available on the day of the elections.
“The job of conducting the elections were known to her well in advances and hence falling sick on the date of the election at 9.30 am cannot be justified as conducting an election was a serious responsibility, which the officer has neglected giving medical reason, which could be subject to manipulation. This can be brought to light after a proper investigation is conducted from all possible angles”, they stated in their petition to the Salcete BDO.
Man caught with ketamine
PANJIM: The anti-narcotics sleuths arrested Rakesh Kumar Makhija and confiscated about 55 gms of Ketamine, worth Rs 55,000 in the international market, from his possession in a raid at Sinquerim, last weekend.
According to a press statement issued by the police department Monday evening, the team received a tip-off that a person aged 50-60 years would deliver a parcel containing drugs to his prospective customer under a banyan tree on the way to the Aguada Jail.
The officials had camped around the place to catch the accused red-handed.
He was identified as Rakesh Kumar Makhija (57) from Nerul. The accused, who used to run a business at Anjuna and Calangute, was remanded to judicial custody.
Scarlett case: Trial adjourned to Oct 7
PANJIM: The trial into 2008 Scarlett Keeling death case has been adjourned to October 7 by the Children’s Court. When the matter came up for hearing Monday, the CBI Public Prosecutor sought to examine the witnesses during the next hearing following which the judge postponed the hearing.
The court had last month examined doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, who confirmed the forensic report which claimed the teenager died due to drowning.
The case has been going on for the last five years with more than half the witnesses yet to be examined. The two accused, Samson D’Souza and Placido Carvalho are being tried for the death of Scarlet, whose bruised body was found on 18 February, 2008 on Anjuna beach.
The CBI, which took over the investigations from Goa police chargesheeted both the accused under various sections in connection with the case.
Shack allotments hearing adjourned
PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday adjourned to next week hearing on the writ petition filed by the Goan Traditional Shack Owners’ Association challenging the allotment of shacks on the basis of experience.
When the matter came up for first hearing, the State government sought time to reply following which the bench adjourned the matter.
The petitioners have challenged the Tourism Policy alleging that it violated the interests of the new entrants as well as of businessmen having experience of less than two years. They have opposed the allocation of shacks as the experienced shack operators have been given priority while interests of others have been neglected.
A legal notice in this regard has been served on the government demanding that allotment of shacks be done as per the previous method.
Two held for forged driving license
VASCO: Two persons were nabbed by the Vasco Traffic Police in connection with a forged driving license.
Vasco Traffic PI Sudesh Narvekar was on a routine checkup when he stopped a two-wheeler rider, Enchhar Gola, a native of West Bengal but residing at New Vaddem, and checked his driving licence.
PI Narvekar found the driving license suspicious and confronted Gola in the matter. Gola revealed that Vijay Dubar (25), who runs a Xerox shop at New Vaddem, had sold him the license.
PI Narvekar then alerted the Vasco Police after which Dubar was arrested. During interrogation, Dubar admitted having committed the crime. Vasco Police arrested Dubar and Gola under Sections 465, 466, 468, 471 read with 34 of IPC and PSI Harish Gaus is investigating the case.
16-yr-old’s body found at Amona
PONDA: The body of the 16-year-old girl, who reportedly jumped from the Amona bridge, was found on Monday. According to Ponda Police, the girl had jumped from the bridge on September 28 night and the body was found floating in the river Mandovi near Amona on Monday morning.
Man attempts suicide by hanging
PONDA: A 38-year-old resident of Ponda reportedly attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself on Monday.
According to Ponda Police, the incident was reported on Monday morning. The family members shifted the victim to Ponda Sub-district Hospital, from where he was referred to GMC Hospital, where he is undergoing medical treatment.
Woman’s mangalsutra snatched
PORVORIM: Two persons on a motorcycle snatched a gold mangalsutra worth about Rs 54,000 from a woman at Housing Board Colony, Ganeshpuri-Mapusa, on Sunday evening. According to Mapusa Police, Bharti Naik of Ganeshpuri complained that the accused, suspected to be in their early 30s, came on an unidentified motorcycle and snatched her mangalsutra weighing about 24 grammes.
