Deported in '08, back in '09
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In what can be termed as a major security lapse, Charles Wuzor, a Nigerian convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Act and deported in 2008, was back in the country and attended a court hearing last Saturday.
This, despite the state government having written to the Union home and external affairs ministries to blacklist Wuzor, deny him visa
and ban his entry into the country.
The court roznama confirms Wuzor’s presence in the court of the judicial magistrate first class ‘D’ at Mapusa on April 18, 2009.
Sources in the government say this could probably be the first time a foreigner convicted in a narcotics case, deported and blacklisted by the state government, had returned within so short a period.
Alarmed by Wuzor’s return, the Goa police’s foreigner’s registration office is conducting an inquiry to verify his port of entry into India for further action.
“We have written to various police station in-charges to obtain information regarding his port of entry into India and his presence in Goa. Once this is done, we will inform the home department to take up the matter with the MEA and MHA,” sources in the FRO said.
Information available with the FRO states that Wuzor was served a deportation order on September 19, 2008 and he left the country the following day. “His passport expired in 2002, but he stayed on as there was a case pending against him. Once convicted on August 21, 2008, the Nigerian high commission in New Delhi issued temporary travel documents to ensure his exit from India,” said FRO sources.
“Wuzor left the country on September 20, 2008. Confirmation of his departure was obtained from CSI airport, Mumbai,” said sources.
Immediately thereafter, on September 23, the state under secretary (home) wrote to the MEA and MHA requesting them “to deny further entry/blacklist/ban entry into India and request the high commission of India at Lagos not to issue a visa to the Nigerian National.”
Wuzor was caught in possession of 169.6 gm of charas with a street value of Rs 16,900 in 2001 by personnel of the anti-narcotics cell at Arpora. Police had alleged that when they surrounded the car Wuzor was travelling in, he swallowed some drugs which were on the front passenger seat and he had to be taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital as he complained of giddiness.
However, the high court of Bombay at Goa observed, “As far as the swallowing of a substance is concerned, it may be stated at this very stage that the prosecution was unable to state as to what that substance was in spite of the accused having been sent to the GMC for examination.”
25 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Police personnel stretched thin
Police personnel stretched thin
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Police stations all over the state wore a deserted look on Wednesday afternoon as almost 90-95% of the staff are on duty for Thursday’s
Lok Sabha election. With the Centre turning down Goa’s request for paramilitary forces, the police have also had to withdraw about 80 officials providing security to “protected persons of Goa”.
“This has left police stations with a skeletal staff of hardly five to seven policemen each,” sources said.
Sources said a PSI and some constables would be on duty, handling the affairs and attending to visitors at police stations. “The staff posted at the police station will remain on duty for more than 48 hours from 12pm on Wednesday as there is no back-up staff,” said police sources.
Goa had sought 12 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre for both districts, of which the Centre was ready to give four. “Planning for the elections was done keeping in mind that we would get paramilitary forces. Since no paramilitary force was deployed, we had to replan and mobilize the entire force,” said police officials. Of the 280 policemen attached to the security unit who guard “protected persons of Goa” (a category of VIPs), about 80 have been withdrawn and mobilized for poll duty.
Police sources said that a few of “the protected persons of Goa”, including some ministers, have been without bodyguards for two days.
Goa Police has a total manpower of 4,365, apart from the IRB whose strength is around 900 odd.
23 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Police stations all over the state wore a deserted look on Wednesday afternoon as almost 90-95% of the staff are on duty for Thursday’s
Lok Sabha election. With the Centre turning down Goa’s request for paramilitary forces, the police have also had to withdraw about 80 officials providing security to “protected persons of Goa”.
“This has left police stations with a skeletal staff of hardly five to seven policemen each,” sources said.
Sources said a PSI and some constables would be on duty, handling the affairs and attending to visitors at police stations. “The staff posted at the police station will remain on duty for more than 48 hours from 12pm on Wednesday as there is no back-up staff,” said police sources.
Goa had sought 12 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre for both districts, of which the Centre was ready to give four. “Planning for the elections was done keeping in mind that we would get paramilitary forces. Since no paramilitary force was deployed, we had to replan and mobilize the entire force,” said police officials. Of the 280 policemen attached to the security unit who guard “protected persons of Goa” (a category of VIPs), about 80 have been withdrawn and mobilized for poll duty.
Police sources said that a few of “the protected persons of Goa”, including some ministers, have been without bodyguards for two days.
Goa Police has a total manpower of 4,365, apart from the IRB whose strength is around 900 odd.
23 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
BJP cells helping people choose a leader
BJP cells helping people choose a leader
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: On February 22, addressing a booth karyakarta sammelan, BJP's poster boy Narendra Modi, who is in-charge of Goa for the Lok Sabha
elections, said, "We are not here to win the Lok Sabha. We have to win the polling booth by winning the hearts of the families and reaching out to them. Once you win the polling booth, you will win Lok Sabha elections."
What Modi preached, the BJP in Goa has been working on for almost a year. They have set up 14 state cells to reach out to people from all strata of society such as farmers, students, chartered accountants, doctors, advocates, panchayat members etc. Besides, endorsing the BJP's mantra of reaching out to each home by providing their service, these cells are perfect examples of good political management.
"We have created 14 cells in the last few months. The aim of each cell is to connect with people of their profession and society at large. They not only serve the people but also help people choose a good leader, who can deliver," said BJP's North Goa candidate and state party president Shripad Naik.
The cells were established six months to one-and-half-year ago. Besides reaching out to the professionals to help BJP serve people at large to meet its social cause, these cells are becoming important agents to help sway the professional's sentiment in BJP's favour. "They have not just to co-ordinate amongst the group members but also garner public support in favour of BJP," said BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar.
In other words, each cell member who had so far worked towards helping people in need, in the last three months has been organizing meetings of the BJP's local leaders with people from their fraternity to help BJP woo the electorate. Though no one wants to comment on whether this would translate into votes, BJP sources reveal that this is the utimate goal.
So the doctor's cell organizes a meeting of doctors with a BJP leader wherein they not just talk about medical issues but also about what is happening in the country, how it can change and why they should support the BJP. On the other hand, a CA's meeting doesn't only talk about taxation issues but also gets to clear their perception about BJP as a party.
"It is a win-win situation for both groups. BJP gets its input about economy and governance from the CAs and the CAs in turn get across their difficulties and problems to the government through the cell. Also BJP gains in terms of votes and support, as CAs have the power to influence not only their clients but also other professionals by putting in a good word for BJP", said Santosh Kenkre, the state convenor for BJP's chartered accountant cell.
To clear doubts in the minds of CAs about BJP, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar had a one-and-half-hour interactive session with more than 100 CAs on Saturday. "We not only earn goodwill from the CAs for the BJP, which in turn ensures good governance in the state", added Kenkre. There are 300-odd CAs in the state.
"Professionals like doctors have a large following and they command respect in society. They don't just treat a patient, but also in the process become a part of the family. We can't be apolitical. If a patient asks whom they should vote for, we explain why they should vote for the BJP," added Dr Shekhar Salkar, the state convenor for BJP's doctors cell.
20 Apr 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: On February 22, addressing a booth karyakarta sammelan, BJP's poster boy Narendra Modi, who is in-charge of Goa for the Lok Sabha
elections, said, "We are not here to win the Lok Sabha. We have to win the polling booth by winning the hearts of the families and reaching out to them. Once you win the polling booth, you will win Lok Sabha elections."
What Modi preached, the BJP in Goa has been working on for almost a year. They have set up 14 state cells to reach out to people from all strata of society such as farmers, students, chartered accountants, doctors, advocates, panchayat members etc. Besides, endorsing the BJP's mantra of reaching out to each home by providing their service, these cells are perfect examples of good political management.
"We have created 14 cells in the last few months. The aim of each cell is to connect with people of their profession and society at large. They not only serve the people but also help people choose a good leader, who can deliver," said BJP's North Goa candidate and state party president Shripad Naik.
The cells were established six months to one-and-half-year ago. Besides reaching out to the professionals to help BJP serve people at large to meet its social cause, these cells are becoming important agents to help sway the professional's sentiment in BJP's favour. "They have not just to co-ordinate amongst the group members but also garner public support in favour of BJP," said BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar.
In other words, each cell member who had so far worked towards helping people in need, in the last three months has been organizing meetings of the BJP's local leaders with people from their fraternity to help BJP woo the electorate. Though no one wants to comment on whether this would translate into votes, BJP sources reveal that this is the utimate goal.
So the doctor's cell organizes a meeting of doctors with a BJP leader wherein they not just talk about medical issues but also about what is happening in the country, how it can change and why they should support the BJP. On the other hand, a CA's meeting doesn't only talk about taxation issues but also gets to clear their perception about BJP as a party.
"It is a win-win situation for both groups. BJP gets its input about economy and governance from the CAs and the CAs in turn get across their difficulties and problems to the government through the cell. Also BJP gains in terms of votes and support, as CAs have the power to influence not only their clients but also other professionals by putting in a good word for BJP", said Santosh Kenkre, the state convenor for BJP's chartered accountant cell.
To clear doubts in the minds of CAs about BJP, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar had a one-and-half-hour interactive session with more than 100 CAs on Saturday. "We not only earn goodwill from the CAs for the BJP, which in turn ensures good governance in the state", added Kenkre. There are 300-odd CAs in the state.
"Professionals like doctors have a large following and they command respect in society. They don't just treat a patient, but also in the process become a part of the family. We can't be apolitical. If a patient asks whom they should vote for, we explain why they should vote for the BJP," added Dr Shekhar Salkar, the state convenor for BJP's doctors cell.
20 Apr 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Rare operation saves woman's life
Rare operation saves woman's life
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Lying in the ICU of the Campal clinic, Jamila Bi, 62, is a relieved woman. Doctors on April 15 successfully removed a giant sized "hydatid cyst" with thousands of worm eggs from her right lung.
A startling size and rare condition in India, previously unrecorded in medical corridors, doctors revealed that the Ponda-based Jamila, a housewife, might have been living in this condition since her childhood. She was promptly and efficiently diagnosed and referred to the hospital by the TB and Chest government hospital in a critical condition.
"I had frequent cough. But I never took it seriously as it was treated with medicines. In the last two or three years, the problem increased and at times I would cough continuously for nearly 15 to 20 minutes. But then felt better after taking medicines. But since last few months, the cough was unbearable. That's when I was referred by a local physician to TB and chest hospital," recalls Jamila.
"It was a 15 cm diameter giant hydatid cyst within the right lung. Termed the multilocular hydatid, it is formed by worms called echinococcus multiloculare. In India, this problem is rare", said cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon Dr Irineu A Pereira, who operated on Jamila.
While unilocular (single cyst cavity) due to echinococcus granulosus worms are relatively common in India, multilocular hydatid due to echinococcus multiloculare worms is uncommon, said doctors. "Multilocular hydatid in the lung and of this size is rare. There is only 5 to 15 % incidence world wide", said Goa Medical College and hospital's pathology department head Dr Wiseman Pinto, to whom the cyst has been sent for hysto-pathology tests.
Even the WHO manual on echinococcosis in humans and animals states that echinococcus multilocularis has an extensive geographic range in the northern hemisphere, including endemic regions in central Europe, most of northern and central Eurasia and parts of North America. In Eurasia, parts of Turkey, Iran and possibly northern India (report of one human case), the manual reports. "It is dangerous because they typically remain asymptomatic until the cysts cause a mass effect on an organ, which can occur 5-20 years after the initial infestation in the lung, mostly in childhood", said Dr Pereira.
Jamila underwent a three-hour-long surgery, in which her lung was cut open and the cyst removed. "The cyst contained thousands of worms and toxic fluids and had to be extracted without rupturing them, as leak or rupture had huge risk of massive allergic reactions leading to death," explained Dr Pereira.
Doctors said that echinococcus multilocularis worms follow a cyclical route. It is found in sheep and canines. The infection is passed to humans by either eating the infected animal or by drinking water contaminated with the excreta of the infected animal. Though the eggs multiply in the human body, it doesn't grow to become a worm within the human body, added doctors.
19 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Lying in the ICU of the Campal clinic, Jamila Bi, 62, is a relieved woman. Doctors on April 15 successfully removed a giant sized "hydatid cyst" with thousands of worm eggs from her right lung.
A startling size and rare condition in India, previously unrecorded in medical corridors, doctors revealed that the Ponda-based Jamila, a housewife, might have been living in this condition since her childhood. She was promptly and efficiently diagnosed and referred to the hospital by the TB and Chest government hospital in a critical condition.
"I had frequent cough. But I never took it seriously as it was treated with medicines. In the last two or three years, the problem increased and at times I would cough continuously for nearly 15 to 20 minutes. But then felt better after taking medicines. But since last few months, the cough was unbearable. That's when I was referred by a local physician to TB and chest hospital," recalls Jamila.
"It was a 15 cm diameter giant hydatid cyst within the right lung. Termed the multilocular hydatid, it is formed by worms called echinococcus multiloculare. In India, this problem is rare", said cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon Dr Irineu A Pereira, who operated on Jamila.
While unilocular (single cyst cavity) due to echinococcus granulosus worms are relatively common in India, multilocular hydatid due to echinococcus multiloculare worms is uncommon, said doctors. "Multilocular hydatid in the lung and of this size is rare. There is only 5 to 15 % incidence world wide", said Goa Medical College and hospital's pathology department head Dr Wiseman Pinto, to whom the cyst has been sent for hysto-pathology tests.
Even the WHO manual on echinococcosis in humans and animals states that echinococcus multilocularis has an extensive geographic range in the northern hemisphere, including endemic regions in central Europe, most of northern and central Eurasia and parts of North America. In Eurasia, parts of Turkey, Iran and possibly northern India (report of one human case), the manual reports. "It is dangerous because they typically remain asymptomatic until the cysts cause a mass effect on an organ, which can occur 5-20 years after the initial infestation in the lung, mostly in childhood", said Dr Pereira.
Jamila underwent a three-hour-long surgery, in which her lung was cut open and the cyst removed. "The cyst contained thousands of worms and toxic fluids and had to be extracted without rupturing them, as leak or rupture had huge risk of massive allergic reactions leading to death," explained Dr Pereira.
Doctors said that echinococcus multilocularis worms follow a cyclical route. It is found in sheep and canines. The infection is passed to humans by either eating the infected animal or by drinking water contaminated with the excreta of the infected animal. Though the eggs multiply in the human body, it doesn't grow to become a worm within the human body, added doctors.
19 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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