TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: South Goa district and sessions judge Nutan Sardesai heard arguments in the bail applications moved by the arrested boat contractor Nobby Barretto and operator Jaghbhandu Jaya Naik who are in police custody. The matter has been posted for October 31.
Advocate Rajeev Gomes, who represented the two applicants, argued that both of them have five years experience in water sports, while attributing the accident to the huge wave that hit the ill-fated vessel which overturned and capsized as the tourists were about to disembark. He also argued that the cyclonic storm Nilofar had no bearing on the mishap, substantiating his argument by placing on record reports of Indian Metrological Department of India and Goa.
He argued that the weather report for Goa issued on October 25 for duration till October 30, predicted wind speed as 98 kmph. The tragedy occurred on October 28.
Public Prosecutor (PP) Sarojini Sardinha opposing the bail applications of the two accused arrested on October 28 put on record that the public was warned not to venture out since the sea was rough.
She stated that the ill-fated sports boat did not have requisite permission.
Boat owners say
CoP order is unjust
PANJIM: The bustling water sports activities on Goan beaches came to a halt on Thursday, a fallout of the government order temporarily banning water sports in the wake of deaths of three Russian tourists.
In North Goa, Candolim-Calangute-Baga beach stretch where thousands of tourists visit was the worst affected.
Mario D’Souza, member of Baga Sauntawado Tourist Boat Association and a boat operator for over a decade told Herald that no tourist was taken for any boat ride Thursday. The operators have expressed resentment over the CoP decision arguing they do not deserve this order as the fault lies with the operator for operating without valid license. “With due respect to the CoP order, the drowning deaths are an individual case of negligence and therefore all activities should not be stopped.
