Rare breed of vulture spotted in Goa after eight years
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: An Indian white-rumped vulture was spotted in Goa after a gap of almost eight years.
According to bird lovers and forest officials, this particular breed of vulture was last spotted in Goa sometime in 2001.
Wildlife photographer Prasanna Parab spotted a "big white rumped vulture" on March 15, 2009 near the highway at Panzorconi, near Cuncolim and captured it on camera. The vulture, which has not been spotted since is bald, with broad wings and a short tail and has now become a subject of discussion among bird watchers.
"Nearly 99% of vultures are now extinct. Of six species of vultures, three the Indian white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture and slender-billed vultureare facing extinction. The Indian white-rumped vulture was last spotted in 2001. About 12 long-billed vultures were documented in the state five years back, but today there is only one remaining in the borders of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. Four nests of long-billed vultures were spotted five years back, but now there are none," said Parag Rangnekar of Vivekananda Environment Awareness Brigade.
Carl D'Silva, state coordinator for Bombay Natural History Society said, "This is a rare occasion. The vultures use thermals (warm air currents) to fly. As the temperature has touched 40?C in western India, maybe there is a movement to some other place as vultures prefer ambient temperatures".
The Indian white-rumped vulture is listed in the IUCN Red Data List as a critically endangered species which faces a threat of extinction in the near future. "The Goa meat factory, near Merck factory at Tisk (Usgao) was a well known site for hundreds of white rumped vultures between 1995 and 2000. But after the closure of the factory, there have been no reported sightings ever since", said a range forest officer in the state.
Also known as nature cleaner, the Indian white-rumped vulture is a scavenger preying mainly on dead animals and forest officials believe that the main factor for the decline of the species was poisoning due to Diclofenae, a veterinary drug which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), that causes kidney failure in birds eating the carcass of cattle treated by this drug.
Environmentalists admit that there has been a catastrophic decline in the vulture population all over the country. The minimum decline in white-backed vulture numbers in India during 1992-2003 was 99.7% and that for Long-billed/Slender-billed was 97.4%. This corresponds with a minimum estimated rate of decline of 34% per year for white-rumped vultures and 27% per year for the long-billed/slender-billed group.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Goa police are probing death of Russian girl
Goa police are probing death of Russian girl
PANAJI: Goa police are investigating into the death of 24-year-old Russian girl whose mutilated body was found on Railway tracks near Mapusa town
on Friday morning.
Police stated that Elena Sukhnovas scattered body organs were found on the track at Revora village, 15 kms away from here.
The Russian girl was apparently holidaying in Goa and had checked in at a lodge at Baga, a beach village in North Goa.
"We inquired with the lodge owner who confirmed that the girl checked in on May 6 and later went out with hotel keys on May 7 at 10.30 pm," Mapusa town police, who are investigating into the case, said.
The dead body was traced on the tracks at 8 am next day.
Although police initially felt that the girl may have died after falling off from the train, they are also investigating the case from different angles.
The dead body is sent for post-mortem, which will give directions to the police investigation.
Meanwhile, Russian consulate has taken cognizance of the death. "We are awaiting few details from the police. Also the post-mortem report would be crucial," Vikram Varma, legal advisory for Russian consulate said.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: Goa police are investigating into the death of 24-year-old Russian girl whose mutilated body was found on Railway tracks near Mapusa town
on Friday morning.
Police stated that Elena Sukhnovas scattered body organs were found on the track at Revora village, 15 kms away from here.
The Russian girl was apparently holidaying in Goa and had checked in at a lodge at Baga, a beach village in North Goa.
"We inquired with the lodge owner who confirmed that the girl checked in on May 6 and later went out with hotel keys on May 7 at 10.30 pm," Mapusa town police, who are investigating into the case, said.
The dead body was traced on the tracks at 8 am next day.
Although police initially felt that the girl may have died after falling off from the train, they are also investigating the case from different angles.
The dead body is sent for post-mortem, which will give directions to the police investigation.
Meanwhile, Russian consulate has taken cognizance of the death. "We are awaiting few details from the police. Also the post-mortem report would be crucial," Vikram Varma, legal advisory for Russian consulate said.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Where is 61% Goa's Industrial waste going?
Where is 61% Goa's Industrial waste going?
PANAJI: Just 39% of Goa’s industrial hazardous waste is disposed at Taloja, Maharashtra, with no one certain of how the rest of the 12,098 metric tonnes is disposed.
In the absence of an industrial waste treatment, storage and disposal plant in the state, industry claims that the remaining waste is held by the industry in their units.
This is, however, countered by environmentalists who say that undisposed hazardous waste is dumped at night. Environmentalists said that such waste can cause public health problems as well as long-term health effects and environmental pollution.
Villagers have also opposed the proposed treatment, storage and disposal facility at Dharbandora.
Goa generates about 12,098 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of industrial hazardous waste. Only 39% of this—which is incineratable waste—is transported to Taloja in Maharashtra. No one is sure where the rest of the waste—15% recyclable and about 46% landfillable—is disposed off in the absence of an industrial waste treatment, storage and disposal plant in the state.
“Only the incineratable hazardous industrial waste is transported to Taloja. The rest of the waste is stored by industries within their premises,” says Joseph D’Souza, founder president, Industrial Waste Management Association of Goa.
Not everyone in the field, however, agrees. “Many industries dump the waste as there is no landfill site,” admitted an industry insider.
This is confirmed by police sources who told TOI, “They (industries) dump their waste in the night. Since no one has lodged a complaint yet, we can’t take any action.”
“What is happening in Goa is illegal,” says environmentalist Claude Alvares. A member of the Supreme Court monitoring committee on hazardous waste, he explains that the apex court in its 2003 ruling ordered that hazardous waste “be disposed off in an engineered landfill site by 2004”.
“But in Goa nothing has changed. The SC order clearly states that if there is no landfill site for industrial hazardous waste then it is the responsibility of the (Goa) state pollution control board to close down such units till the site is ready. Nothing of the sort has happened in Goa,” says Alvares.
Goa State Pollution Control Board officials however, insist, “The industries keep (hazardous waste) covered within their premises. Moreover, Nicomet industries which alone produces about 70% of the total hazardous waste generated in the state, has now constructed its own landfill site which can be used for up to 3 years. By that time the plant at Dharbandora will be ready.”
On April 16, 2008, the state government notified land admeasuring 1,10,390 sq m in survey no 193/3 of Dharbandora, Sanguem taluka for a common hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility for industries. However, local opposition (see adjoining story) has left the matter in limbo.
Incidentally, the environmental impact assessment for the proposed Dharbandora site had shown that an estimate of about 248 hazardous waste generating units in Goa are registered under the hazardous waste act and together generate 12,098 MTA of hazardous waste.
Of this, 5,605 MTA is landfillable waste, 4,708 MTA is incineratable waste and about 1,785 MTA is recyclable waste which can be transferred for safe storage and disposal, the report prepared for the Goa Industrial Development Corporation by Ramky Infra Consulting Pvt Ltd, revealed.
In Goa, hazardous waste comprises of used oil, waste oil and residues containing oil, residues from zinc ash and skimming, arsenic-bearing sludge, phosphate sludge, waste and residues in production and use of paints, residue and waste from formulation of pharmaceutical products, spent carbon, flue gas cleaning residue, sludge from wet scrubbers and ash from incineration of hazardous waste. Such waste causes immediate, short-term public health problems as well as long-term health issues and environmental pollution.
May 5,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: Just 39% of Goa’s industrial hazardous waste is disposed at Taloja, Maharashtra, with no one certain of how the rest of the 12,098 metric tonnes is disposed.
In the absence of an industrial waste treatment, storage and disposal plant in the state, industry claims that the remaining waste is held by the industry in their units.
This is, however, countered by environmentalists who say that undisposed hazardous waste is dumped at night. Environmentalists said that such waste can cause public health problems as well as long-term health effects and environmental pollution.
Villagers have also opposed the proposed treatment, storage and disposal facility at Dharbandora.
Goa generates about 12,098 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of industrial hazardous waste. Only 39% of this—which is incineratable waste—is transported to Taloja in Maharashtra. No one is sure where the rest of the waste—15% recyclable and about 46% landfillable—is disposed off in the absence of an industrial waste treatment, storage and disposal plant in the state.
“Only the incineratable hazardous industrial waste is transported to Taloja. The rest of the waste is stored by industries within their premises,” says Joseph D’Souza, founder president, Industrial Waste Management Association of Goa.
Not everyone in the field, however, agrees. “Many industries dump the waste as there is no landfill site,” admitted an industry insider.
This is confirmed by police sources who told TOI, “They (industries) dump their waste in the night. Since no one has lodged a complaint yet, we can’t take any action.”
“What is happening in Goa is illegal,” says environmentalist Claude Alvares. A member of the Supreme Court monitoring committee on hazardous waste, he explains that the apex court in its 2003 ruling ordered that hazardous waste “be disposed off in an engineered landfill site by 2004”.
“But in Goa nothing has changed. The SC order clearly states that if there is no landfill site for industrial hazardous waste then it is the responsibility of the (Goa) state pollution control board to close down such units till the site is ready. Nothing of the sort has happened in Goa,” says Alvares.
Goa State Pollution Control Board officials however, insist, “The industries keep (hazardous waste) covered within their premises. Moreover, Nicomet industries which alone produces about 70% of the total hazardous waste generated in the state, has now constructed its own landfill site which can be used for up to 3 years. By that time the plant at Dharbandora will be ready.”
On April 16, 2008, the state government notified land admeasuring 1,10,390 sq m in survey no 193/3 of Dharbandora, Sanguem taluka for a common hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility for industries. However, local opposition (see adjoining story) has left the matter in limbo.
Incidentally, the environmental impact assessment for the proposed Dharbandora site had shown that an estimate of about 248 hazardous waste generating units in Goa are registered under the hazardous waste act and together generate 12,098 MTA of hazardous waste.
Of this, 5,605 MTA is landfillable waste, 4,708 MTA is incineratable waste and about 1,785 MTA is recyclable waste which can be transferred for safe storage and disposal, the report prepared for the Goa Industrial Development Corporation by Ramky Infra Consulting Pvt Ltd, revealed.
In Goa, hazardous waste comprises of used oil, waste oil and residues containing oil, residues from zinc ash and skimming, arsenic-bearing sludge, phosphate sludge, waste and residues in production and use of paints, residue and waste from formulation of pharmaceutical products, spent carbon, flue gas cleaning residue, sludge from wet scrubbers and ash from incineration of hazardous waste. Such waste causes immediate, short-term public health problems as well as long-term health issues and environmental pollution.
May 5,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Chemists fume over GMC drug store tender
Chemists fume over GMC drug store tender
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Changes in the eligibility criteria for running a pharmacy
at the Goa Medical College and Hospital
and Yatri Niwas have come under a
cloud.
Unlike in the past, when the GMC pharmacy operation was open to manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers, this time the latter two are deemed not eligible.
The tender has been drafted in such a manner that only a Goa registered drug manufacturer, having its own manufacturing unit and retail outlets, besides manufacturing products for more than five reputed large pharma companies and with over five years manufacturing experience can bid for it. This has not only got chemists in Goa fuming, but has narrowed the eligibility field to just two manufacturers.
A letter from the Chemists and Druggists Association, Goa, to health minister Vishwajit Rane said, “We are pained to note that none of our members are eligible to even quote for the pharmacy as the clause includes only the manufacturing companies.”
“We have requested the health minister to reconsider the eligibility criteria by removing the ‘manufacturing company clause’ and allowing individuals having a pharmacy business to quote,” Ratnadeep Kurtarkar, the association president told TOI.
Rane citing price considerations is unwilling to change the specifications. “We want to encourage the small scale pharma industry that will give us a better price. I am not interested in entertaining traders. We want a corporate company with retail experience, who can maintain a minimum level of drugs, materials and surgical appliances at the pharmacy, so that indenting by the GMC can be done from here if the product is not available in the hospital,” said Rane.
President of Chemists and Druggists Association, Goa, Ratnadeep Kurtarkar, however, does not appear convinced by health minister Vishwajit Rane’s explanation that the move to exclude retailers is aimed at encouraging small scale pharma industry.
He said traders do maintain a minimum inventory of drugs and surgical appliances in the pharmacy.
“If by adhering to the Central government’s policy to give cheaper medicines, the state government is proposing a ‘Janaushadhi’ store at GMC, then a manufacturer would be able to manufacture generic drugs and give it to patients at cheaper rates. But a retailer or any manufacturer selling branded drugs will have to sell them at the MRP,” added Kurtarkar.
The tender’s new criteria allows just two companies to bid for the contract. “Only two companies meet the requirements. One is the Hede Group run Shwarde Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd at Corlim that has a retail shop at Porvorim and Goa Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (GAPL) which has a retail shop at GMC,” sources at Food and Drug Administration told TOI.
Confirming this, Goa pharmaceutical manufacturers association president Dilip Salgaonkar said, “There are three or four pharma companies registered in Goa. To the best of my knowledge only two pharma companies — GAPL and Shwarde — have retail shopping also.”
There is a further catch in the eligibility criteria, which states that the pharma company should be registered as a small scale industry. “GAPL doesn’t have SSI registration. It has medium scale registration with government of India,” Goa State Industries Association executive secretary GP Chimulkar told TOI.
Rane explained saying, “We have shortlisted two companies — Hede group’s pharma company and government run GAPL. We are in the process of verifying if GAPL is registered under the Small Scale Industries (SSI). If so registered, GAPL will get the contract, otherwise it will go to the Hede group.”
2 May 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Changes in the eligibility criteria for running a pharmacy
at the Goa Medical College and Hospital
and Yatri Niwas have come under a
cloud.
Unlike in the past, when the GMC pharmacy operation was open to manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers, this time the latter two are deemed not eligible.
The tender has been drafted in such a manner that only a Goa registered drug manufacturer, having its own manufacturing unit and retail outlets, besides manufacturing products for more than five reputed large pharma companies and with over five years manufacturing experience can bid for it. This has not only got chemists in Goa fuming, but has narrowed the eligibility field to just two manufacturers.
A letter from the Chemists and Druggists Association, Goa, to health minister Vishwajit Rane said, “We are pained to note that none of our members are eligible to even quote for the pharmacy as the clause includes only the manufacturing companies.”
“We have requested the health minister to reconsider the eligibility criteria by removing the ‘manufacturing company clause’ and allowing individuals having a pharmacy business to quote,” Ratnadeep Kurtarkar, the association president told TOI.
Rane citing price considerations is unwilling to change the specifications. “We want to encourage the small scale pharma industry that will give us a better price. I am not interested in entertaining traders. We want a corporate company with retail experience, who can maintain a minimum level of drugs, materials and surgical appliances at the pharmacy, so that indenting by the GMC can be done from here if the product is not available in the hospital,” said Rane.
President of Chemists and Druggists Association, Goa, Ratnadeep Kurtarkar, however, does not appear convinced by health minister Vishwajit Rane’s explanation that the move to exclude retailers is aimed at encouraging small scale pharma industry.
He said traders do maintain a minimum inventory of drugs and surgical appliances in the pharmacy.
“If by adhering to the Central government’s policy to give cheaper medicines, the state government is proposing a ‘Janaushadhi’ store at GMC, then a manufacturer would be able to manufacture generic drugs and give it to patients at cheaper rates. But a retailer or any manufacturer selling branded drugs will have to sell them at the MRP,” added Kurtarkar.
The tender’s new criteria allows just two companies to bid for the contract. “Only two companies meet the requirements. One is the Hede Group run Shwarde Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd at Corlim that has a retail shop at Porvorim and Goa Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (GAPL) which has a retail shop at GMC,” sources at Food and Drug Administration told TOI.
Confirming this, Goa pharmaceutical manufacturers association president Dilip Salgaonkar said, “There are three or four pharma companies registered in Goa. To the best of my knowledge only two pharma companies — GAPL and Shwarde — have retail shopping also.”
There is a further catch in the eligibility criteria, which states that the pharma company should be registered as a small scale industry. “GAPL doesn’t have SSI registration. It has medium scale registration with government of India,” Goa State Industries Association executive secretary GP Chimulkar told TOI.
Rane explained saying, “We have shortlisted two companies — Hede group’s pharma company and government run GAPL. We are in the process of verifying if GAPL is registered under the Small Scale Industries (SSI). If so registered, GAPL will get the contract, otherwise it will go to the Hede group.”
2 May 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Churchill's brother quizzed over passport irregularity
Churchill's brother quizzed over passport irregularity
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Seabra Alemao, 57, younger brother of PWD minister Churchill Alemao has been asked to clarify regarding his and his father's name by the passport office at Panaji, as they differ from those given in the birth certificate.
He will also have to pay a fine amounting to Rs 5,000 for suppressing personal particulars. A report regarding the same has been sent to the ministry of external affairs, New Delhi.
A letter dated April 22, 2009 asks Seabra to explain "regarding passport application in 2004 and correct name as per old application." While in his passport application dated December 16, 2008, Seabra has written his name as "Presentacao Seabra Joaquim Alemao", the birth certificate has his name as "Presentacao Seabra Joaquim Cerejeira Sacrafamilia Alemao". Similarly with his father's name, in the passport application Seabra has written it as "Antonio Augusto Braz Clemente Alemao", while the birth certificate states "Antonio Augusto Braz Clemente Fortunato Flosculo Mario Ragario Piedade Alemao".
Passport officer S B Hire refused to comment. However, officials at the passport office said, "On April 15, we got a positive recommendation for Seabra from the police. He is now eligible to get the passport after clarifying his and his father's name and after paying the fine amount."
When contacted, Seabra said, "I have given an affidavit to the passport office in which I have clearly mentioned my full name and my father's full name. They have not sent me a letter asking me to pay any fine."
The disparities came to light when the passport office conducted an inquiry into Seabra's application after receiving a police report on January 16, 2009, that instead of approving or rejecting the passport application stated, "discretion of passport officer".
The report came from the DySP CID/SB, despite the fact that the Colva police inspector's report states that there are no court cases pending against Seabra and he has been acquitted in two cases and he can be issued a passport.
After receiving the police report, passport officials conducted an inquiry into Seabra's application and found that he had first applied for a passport in 2004, in which he had given his and father's name as per the birth certificate. However, his file was closed on December 30, 2004, as he failed to respond to queries raised by the passport office. At that time in the column for passport details, Seabra had said, "not known" and the passport office had sought a clarification regarding this, which Seabra had failed to provide.
Later, on December 16, 2008 Seabra filed a fresh passport application. "He failed to mention that he had applied for and was not issued a passport in 2004. On seeking a clarification, Seabra submitted a notarized affidavit on February 17, 2009 stating that he had previously applied for a passport. Seabra will have to shell out another Rs 1,000 for not informing the passport office that he had previously applied for a passport," officials said.
"In 2004 I had applied for the passport but had lost the form number and the passport office had said they could not trace the form so I made a fresh application in 2008," said Seabra.
On Thursday, Churchill had addressed a press conference at which he had alleged that the passport officer refused to renew his brother Seabra's passport on the grounds that criminal cases were pending against him, in spite of the fact that the sessions court had cleared him of all charges. However, passport officials denied these allegations.
Seabra, however, made the same allegations on Friday and said, "They are denying me the passport, saying there a cases pending against me, though I have submitted court orders acquitting me."
2 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Seabra Alemao, 57, younger brother of PWD minister Churchill Alemao has been asked to clarify regarding his and his father's name by the passport office at Panaji, as they differ from those given in the birth certificate.
He will also have to pay a fine amounting to Rs 5,000 for suppressing personal particulars. A report regarding the same has been sent to the ministry of external affairs, New Delhi.
A letter dated April 22, 2009 asks Seabra to explain "regarding passport application in 2004 and correct name as per old application." While in his passport application dated December 16, 2008, Seabra has written his name as "Presentacao Seabra Joaquim Alemao", the birth certificate has his name as "Presentacao Seabra Joaquim Cerejeira Sacrafamilia Alemao". Similarly with his father's name, in the passport application Seabra has written it as "Antonio Augusto Braz Clemente Alemao", while the birth certificate states "Antonio Augusto Braz Clemente Fortunato Flosculo Mario Ragario Piedade Alemao".
Passport officer S B Hire refused to comment. However, officials at the passport office said, "On April 15, we got a positive recommendation for Seabra from the police. He is now eligible to get the passport after clarifying his and his father's name and after paying the fine amount."
When contacted, Seabra said, "I have given an affidavit to the passport office in which I have clearly mentioned my full name and my father's full name. They have not sent me a letter asking me to pay any fine."
The disparities came to light when the passport office conducted an inquiry into Seabra's application after receiving a police report on January 16, 2009, that instead of approving or rejecting the passport application stated, "discretion of passport officer".
The report came from the DySP CID/SB, despite the fact that the Colva police inspector's report states that there are no court cases pending against Seabra and he has been acquitted in two cases and he can be issued a passport.
After receiving the police report, passport officials conducted an inquiry into Seabra's application and found that he had first applied for a passport in 2004, in which he had given his and father's name as per the birth certificate. However, his file was closed on December 30, 2004, as he failed to respond to queries raised by the passport office. At that time in the column for passport details, Seabra had said, "not known" and the passport office had sought a clarification regarding this, which Seabra had failed to provide.
Later, on December 16, 2008 Seabra filed a fresh passport application. "He failed to mention that he had applied for and was not issued a passport in 2004. On seeking a clarification, Seabra submitted a notarized affidavit on February 17, 2009 stating that he had previously applied for a passport. Seabra will have to shell out another Rs 1,000 for not informing the passport office that he had previously applied for a passport," officials said.
"In 2004 I had applied for the passport but had lost the form number and the passport office had said they could not trace the form so I made a fresh application in 2008," said Seabra.
On Thursday, Churchill had addressed a press conference at which he had alleged that the passport officer refused to renew his brother Seabra's passport on the grounds that criminal cases were pending against him, in spite of the fact that the sessions court had cleared him of all charges. However, passport officials denied these allegations.
Seabra, however, made the same allegations on Friday and said, "They are denying me the passport, saying there a cases pending against me, though I have submitted court orders acquitting me."
2 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
CBI seals residence of insurance company manager
CBI seals residence of insurance company manager
PANAJI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sealed the official residence of Oriental Insurance Company Limited's divisional manager in Goa on Thursday. CBI is investigating into divisional manager Mukesh Gupta's assets and properties as they had information that Gupta was maintaining a standard of living far beyond his known means.
Though there was no official confirmation, sources in the CBI said that they had a warrant to search four placesone in New Delhi and three at Goaall reportedly belonging to Gupta. CBI searched Gupta's house in New Delhi and also searched and sealed his office in Panaji, and his 146-square-metre flat at Adwalparkar Center in Caranzalem, for which he allegedly spent a fortune on the wood work, marble, tiling and lighting.
"We sealed Gupta's official residence at Models Estate, Caranzalem, on Thursday. The search of his residence will be conducted once we trace Gupta, who is out of station'," said CBI officials.
Officials said that Gupta had recently sold a well-furnished flat at Models Millennium, Caranzalem. "He spent about Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh on the interiors. For more information, we are trying to trace the person to whom Gupta sold the flat. Besides, Gupta has also bought a plot at the Kadamba plateau," said sources.
CBI also sealed five of his bank accounts and one share trading account. Gupta has been working for Oriental Insurance Company Ltd in Goa since 1996. He was posted at Margao where he held office till 2002. At present he is in the Panaji office where he heads the insurance firm's operations in Goa.
2 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sealed the official residence of Oriental Insurance Company Limited's divisional manager in Goa on Thursday. CBI is investigating into divisional manager Mukesh Gupta's assets and properties as they had information that Gupta was maintaining a standard of living far beyond his known means.
Though there was no official confirmation, sources in the CBI said that they had a warrant to search four placesone in New Delhi and three at Goaall reportedly belonging to Gupta. CBI searched Gupta's house in New Delhi and also searched and sealed his office in Panaji, and his 146-square-metre flat at Adwalparkar Center in Caranzalem, for which he allegedly spent a fortune on the wood work, marble, tiling and lighting.
"We sealed Gupta's official residence at Models Estate, Caranzalem, on Thursday. The search of his residence will be conducted once we trace Gupta, who is out of station'," said CBI officials.
Officials said that Gupta had recently sold a well-furnished flat at Models Millennium, Caranzalem. "He spent about Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh on the interiors. For more information, we are trying to trace the person to whom Gupta sold the flat. Besides, Gupta has also bought a plot at the Kadamba plateau," said sources.
CBI also sealed five of his bank accounts and one share trading account. Gupta has been working for Oriental Insurance Company Ltd in Goa since 1996. He was posted at Margao where he held office till 2002. At present he is in the Panaji office where he heads the insurance firm's operations in Goa.
2 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, May 01, 2009
Dry taps hit kidney patients
Dry taps hit kidney patients
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With taps running dry from Wednesday evening at the new 450-bed block of the Goa Medical College and Hospital, patients, especially those
requiring dialysis, have been put to major hardship.
The block houses the medicine, urology, neurology, paediatrics, dermatology and VD, nephrology and surgical gasteroentology wards and the ICCU, CCU, MICU.
On Thursday, several renal failure patients in need of dialysis were seen waiting for their appointments that never materialised, even as staff at the kidney unit were calling up other patients to cancel afternoon appointments.
Doctors were forced to send back patients with dialysis appointments, directing those with emergency needs to private hospitals. While those who could afford did go to private clinics, those who weren’t able to shell out the Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per session have been returning to the GMC in desperation.
GMC medical superintendent Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar admitted the problem existed and said, “While water requirement at GMC has increased, quantity of water supplied has not. Our water requirement is about 1000 cubic mts and we have asked for more water.”
PWD minister Churchill Alemao, however, said the shortage was due to internal distribution. “There is a water shortage in the new GMC ward and I have sent my men to sort out the problem. It is more of an internal problem of GMC administration.”
An official from Frischmann Prabhu (I) Pvt Ltd, project management consultant for the block, though blamed PWD for the problem. He said, “Though the capacity of the tank at GMC is about 1200 cubic mts, only 300 cubic mts water is filled daily. The new ward alone requires 120 to 130 cubic mts water daily.”
GMC staff say that this is not a new problem. “Today is no exception. For the last 15 days there has been no water in the wards in the evening. The toilets stink and from Wednesday evening, it has been really bad. There is no water in the bathroom or even water to drink,” said a housekeeping staff at GMC.
Patients are being forced to purchase packaged water to drink as well as for washing. “We bought 5-6 water bottles in the morning as there is no water to drink or wash,” said a woman whose son is admitted in the medicine ward with diabetes
1 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
.
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With taps running dry from Wednesday evening at the new 450-bed block of the Goa Medical College and Hospital, patients, especially those
requiring dialysis, have been put to major hardship.
The block houses the medicine, urology, neurology, paediatrics, dermatology and VD, nephrology and surgical gasteroentology wards and the ICCU, CCU, MICU.
On Thursday, several renal failure patients in need of dialysis were seen waiting for their appointments that never materialised, even as staff at the kidney unit were calling up other patients to cancel afternoon appointments.
Doctors were forced to send back patients with dialysis appointments, directing those with emergency needs to private hospitals. While those who could afford did go to private clinics, those who weren’t able to shell out the Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per session have been returning to the GMC in desperation.
GMC medical superintendent Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar admitted the problem existed and said, “While water requirement at GMC has increased, quantity of water supplied has not. Our water requirement is about 1000 cubic mts and we have asked for more water.”
PWD minister Churchill Alemao, however, said the shortage was due to internal distribution. “There is a water shortage in the new GMC ward and I have sent my men to sort out the problem. It is more of an internal problem of GMC administration.”
An official from Frischmann Prabhu (I) Pvt Ltd, project management consultant for the block, though blamed PWD for the problem. He said, “Though the capacity of the tank at GMC is about 1200 cubic mts, only 300 cubic mts water is filled daily. The new ward alone requires 120 to 130 cubic mts water daily.”
GMC staff say that this is not a new problem. “Today is no exception. For the last 15 days there has been no water in the wards in the evening. The toilets stink and from Wednesday evening, it has been really bad. There is no water in the bathroom or even water to drink,” said a housekeeping staff at GMC.
Patients are being forced to purchase packaged water to drink as well as for washing. “We bought 5-6 water bottles in the morning as there is no water to drink or wash,” said a woman whose son is admitted in the medicine ward with diabetes
1 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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Russian couple asks for dead son's remains
Russian couple asks for dead son's remains
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Almost one and half years after a boy went missing in Goa, now his Russian parents are trying to get the skull and other remains of their
22-year-old for burial in their homeland Russia.
Anton Prosnyakov had gone missing in November 2007. His last call to his parents was from Chapora in Goa on November 3, 2007. "With the DNA tests and super imposition tests confirming that the decomposed body of a man found in the bushes at Vagator was of their son, the parents have now asked for the remains of their son for burial," said police sources.
The police added, "We have sent a request for the skull from the forensic laboratory in Punjab where it was sent for superimposition. The rest of his body parts have been disposed off."
Confirming this, advocate of the consul general of the Russian federation in Goa, Vikram Varma said, "This is a case of homicide. Even as police investigation continues, the remains of the boy would need to be repatriated for burial according to the wishes of the family."
Anton had arrived in New Delhi from Russia on August 25, 2007, on a tourist visa along with his girlfriend Marina Pulina, 22. They travelled to Srinagar, Leh, Mumbai and ultimately arrived in Goa in October. They initially stayed at Vagator and then moved to Chapora. With no news from their son for a long time, Anton's parents complained to the foreign affairs ministry of the Russian federation that their son had been missing since November 2007.
Sources said that on receiving a letter from the Russian consul, the Goa police asked for the boy's photograph showing his frontal face profile as police suspected that the two unknown bodies found in the bushes at White rock shack, Vagator, could be of Anton and his girlfriend. This doubt was confirmed when a witness, Misrilal, on seeing Anton's photo, told the cops that he had seen the couple living in a tent at White rock. Moreover, the yellowish red beaded plastic necklace which was found with the skeletal remains in the autopsy and is preserved by the police, was found to be similar to the necklace seen in the photograph of the couple.
Later, the DNA tests of the decomposed body and the parents also confirmed that it is the body of their missing son. The identification using the superimposition technique also confirmed that it was the Russian couple.
30 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Almost one and half years after a boy went missing in Goa, now his Russian parents are trying to get the skull and other remains of their
22-year-old for burial in their homeland Russia.
Anton Prosnyakov had gone missing in November 2007. His last call to his parents was from Chapora in Goa on November 3, 2007. "With the DNA tests and super imposition tests confirming that the decomposed body of a man found in the bushes at Vagator was of their son, the parents have now asked for the remains of their son for burial," said police sources.
The police added, "We have sent a request for the skull from the forensic laboratory in Punjab where it was sent for superimposition. The rest of his body parts have been disposed off."
Confirming this, advocate of the consul general of the Russian federation in Goa, Vikram Varma said, "This is a case of homicide. Even as police investigation continues, the remains of the boy would need to be repatriated for burial according to the wishes of the family."
Anton had arrived in New Delhi from Russia on August 25, 2007, on a tourist visa along with his girlfriend Marina Pulina, 22. They travelled to Srinagar, Leh, Mumbai and ultimately arrived in Goa in October. They initially stayed at Vagator and then moved to Chapora. With no news from their son for a long time, Anton's parents complained to the foreign affairs ministry of the Russian federation that their son had been missing since November 2007.
Sources said that on receiving a letter from the Russian consul, the Goa police asked for the boy's photograph showing his frontal face profile as police suspected that the two unknown bodies found in the bushes at White rock shack, Vagator, could be of Anton and his girlfriend. This doubt was confirmed when a witness, Misrilal, on seeing Anton's photo, told the cops that he had seen the couple living in a tent at White rock. Moreover, the yellowish red beaded plastic necklace which was found with the skeletal remains in the autopsy and is preserved by the police, was found to be similar to the necklace seen in the photograph of the couple.
Later, the DNA tests of the decomposed body and the parents also confirmed that it is the body of their missing son. The identification using the superimposition technique also confirmed that it was the Russian couple.
30 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Deported in '08, back in '09
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
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
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
Friday, April 17, 2009
Most young Goa Medical College docs are stressed
Most young Goa Medical College docs are stressed
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Young doctors at the Goa Medical College are highly stressed. According to a study, more than 80% doctors in the age group of 23 to 30
suffer from high levels of stress and tension. To help these doctors cope better, GMC has started stress management workshops and will be introducing counseling sessions for them.
The present study was undertaken with the intention of examining the causes and level of stress among doctors. A group of 100 junior and senior residents and consultants working at GMC served as sample for the study conducted by head of pathology department Dr Wiseman Pinto and intern Dr Amar Jain for the Medical Education Cell of GMC. The age of the doctors studied ranged from 23 to 50 years.
"Consultants reported more satisfaction with work and less stress. On the other hand, resident doctors who are just starting their career complained that they are stressed out. About 75.7% said that they were under stress everyday," said Dr Pinto. The study revealed that about 54% had medium stress levels while around 33% complained that they suffered from high levels of stress.
The major cause of stress among doctors are long duty hours, dealing with death, suffering and pain on a daily basis, frequent night duties and calls and overburdened with work. While about 90% said that the major causes for stress were long duty hours (36 hours), no post duty offs, overburdened with work, lack of sleep due to frequent night duties or calls, irritable behaviour of patients or relatives and study tensions, few others said that dealing with high risk patients, lazy junior staff, harassment from seniors, partiality and departmental politics stresses them out. Some also said that they had exam and operation theater tensions.
"Stress levels among young doctors have definitely increased. Though the number of patients have increased over the years, the number of doctors in GMC have remained steady", said Dr. Pinto. On an average, a resident has to handle 50 to 70 patients at GMC in a day, especially in busy departments like surgery, medicine, neurosurgery, ICU, casualty, orthopedics, anesthesia, gynecology and trauma.
While the number of patients has increased over the years, the number of posts have not increased. In 2008, there were 4 lakh OPDs, 52,111 admissions, 16,061 surgeries and 5,665 births in GMC. On the other hand, the number of vacant positions for junior residents are 2, for senior residents 28 and consultants 27.
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Young doctors at the Goa Medical College are highly stressed. According to a study, more than 80% doctors in the age group of 23 to 30
suffer from high levels of stress and tension. To help these doctors cope better, GMC has started stress management workshops and will be introducing counseling sessions for them.
The present study was undertaken with the intention of examining the causes and level of stress among doctors. A group of 100 junior and senior residents and consultants working at GMC served as sample for the study conducted by head of pathology department Dr Wiseman Pinto and intern Dr Amar Jain for the Medical Education Cell of GMC. The age of the doctors studied ranged from 23 to 50 years.
"Consultants reported more satisfaction with work and less stress. On the other hand, resident doctors who are just starting their career complained that they are stressed out. About 75.7% said that they were under stress everyday," said Dr Pinto. The study revealed that about 54% had medium stress levels while around 33% complained that they suffered from high levels of stress.
The major cause of stress among doctors are long duty hours, dealing with death, suffering and pain on a daily basis, frequent night duties and calls and overburdened with work. While about 90% said that the major causes for stress were long duty hours (36 hours), no post duty offs, overburdened with work, lack of sleep due to frequent night duties or calls, irritable behaviour of patients or relatives and study tensions, few others said that dealing with high risk patients, lazy junior staff, harassment from seniors, partiality and departmental politics stresses them out. Some also said that they had exam and operation theater tensions.
"Stress levels among young doctors have definitely increased. Though the number of patients have increased over the years, the number of doctors in GMC have remained steady", said Dr. Pinto. On an average, a resident has to handle 50 to 70 patients at GMC in a day, especially in busy departments like surgery, medicine, neurosurgery, ICU, casualty, orthopedics, anesthesia, gynecology and trauma.
While the number of patients has increased over the years, the number of posts have not increased. In 2008, there were 4 lakh OPDs, 52,111 admissions, 16,061 surgeries and 5,665 births in GMC. On the other hand, the number of vacant positions for junior residents are 2, for senior residents 28 and consultants 27.
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
BJP winning Catholic hearts
BJP winning Catholic hearts
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is moving away from its hardline Hindutva image and trying to woo the Christians. And what's more, the BJP workers claim that this election they have been able to penetrate into Catholic hearts, which have so far been considered staunch Congress supporters.
"I am witnessing a big change this year. Unlike in the past when Christians in North Goa used to avoid the BJP candidates, this time they are actually inviting us to address meetings in the village," said BJP's north Goa candidate and state party president Shripad Naik.
Naik is also working hard to reach out to the Christian population. Sources said that Naik generally starts his day's campaigning in a village after offering prayers. In the past, majority of village meetings and house to house visits started with paying obeisance in a temple. But this time, in several villages, the day started after praying at a church.
"I have started my day's campaigning after praying to God in a church or chapel in more than 10 to 12 places this time. The number is higher than last year. But it was not a deliberate attempt to woo the Christian hearts. It happened because the Christian population eagerly welcomed us," he said.
Of the 678 booths in north Goa, Naik has visited over 600 booths. He has also finished his one round of campaigning in almost each and every village panchayat, except in four or five.
BJP workers reveal that even the hardcore Congress areas are slowly warming up to the idea of a BJP leader and they are inviting BJP leaders to address people. Take the case of Girkarwado in Arambol, which has more than 90% Catholic population. Despite winning the assembly elections twice from Mandrem constituency, BJP's Laxmikant Parsekar has never been able to penetrate into the village vote-bank. But this time its a different scenario.
"I have never got votes from Girkarwado. But this time, the Catholics organized a public meeting and invited us to address a crowd of more than 400," said Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar. This, Parsekar believes, is a sign of the changing image of BJP in the Christian minds.
"The image that the BJP is a Hindutva party is changing. People have realized that BJP maybe a Hindu party, but we are definitely not against Catholics. People from the minority community are coming out in large numbers for the village meetings organized by us and extending their support to bhau (Naik)," said Parsekar.
Fr Francisco Caldeira, director, Diocesan Centre for Social Communication Media said, "Catholics are open to BJP. Even in the past, they had come to power with the help of Catholic votes."
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is moving away from its hardline Hindutva image and trying to woo the Christians. And what's more, the BJP workers claim that this election they have been able to penetrate into Catholic hearts, which have so far been considered staunch Congress supporters.
"I am witnessing a big change this year. Unlike in the past when Christians in North Goa used to avoid the BJP candidates, this time they are actually inviting us to address meetings in the village," said BJP's north Goa candidate and state party president Shripad Naik.
Naik is also working hard to reach out to the Christian population. Sources said that Naik generally starts his day's campaigning in a village after offering prayers. In the past, majority of village meetings and house to house visits started with paying obeisance in a temple. But this time, in several villages, the day started after praying at a church.
"I have started my day's campaigning after praying to God in a church or chapel in more than 10 to 12 places this time. The number is higher than last year. But it was not a deliberate attempt to woo the Christian hearts. It happened because the Christian population eagerly welcomed us," he said.
Of the 678 booths in north Goa, Naik has visited over 600 booths. He has also finished his one round of campaigning in almost each and every village panchayat, except in four or five.
BJP workers reveal that even the hardcore Congress areas are slowly warming up to the idea of a BJP leader and they are inviting BJP leaders to address people. Take the case of Girkarwado in Arambol, which has more than 90% Catholic population. Despite winning the assembly elections twice from Mandrem constituency, BJP's Laxmikant Parsekar has never been able to penetrate into the village vote-bank. But this time its a different scenario.
"I have never got votes from Girkarwado. But this time, the Catholics organized a public meeting and invited us to address a crowd of more than 400," said Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar. This, Parsekar believes, is a sign of the changing image of BJP in the Christian minds.
"The image that the BJP is a Hindutva party is changing. People have realized that BJP maybe a Hindu party, but we are definitely not against Catholics. People from the minority community are coming out in large numbers for the village meetings organized by us and extending their support to bhau (Naik)," said Parsekar.
Fr Francisco Caldeira, director, Diocesan Centre for Social Communication Media said, "Catholics are open to BJP. Even in the past, they had come to power with the help of Catholic votes."
17 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Other extreme: An LS aspirant who owns nothing, almost
Other extreme: An LS aspirant who owns nothing, almost
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Amidst the crorepatis contesting the Lok Sabha polls is a slum dweller who has neither savings nor movable assets. In fact, Martha D’Souza, an independent in fray for the North Goa seat is so poor that her contact point is a coin box pay phone outside her only immovable asset—an old, two-storied home in the middle of the Indiranagar slums in Chimbel, about 3 km from Panaji.
But poverty has turned into a poll USP for the 55-year-old widow of a police constable.
“I am poor and therefore I understand the pains and needs of the poor. I don’t have a manifesto that woos people before the elections. My aim is to work towards the upliftment of the poor. That’s my election manifesto,” says Martha. Her only source of income, according to her affidavit before the Election Commission, is a monthly pension of Rs 2,000.
Well aware that her competitors are not as poorly placed, the SSC educated Martha, who unsuccessfully contested two Assembly elections from Santa Cruz constituency in the past, says “money doesn’t matter”.
“What have the lahkpati and crorepati politicians done for the poor? Absolutely nothing. I have won the hearts of the poor here and they have contributed Rs 20,000 for my campaign. I will use the money to display banners and announce my candidature on a mobile loudspeaker,” says the candidate whose symbol is a coconut.
Quizzed about why she’s in the race, she shoots back, “If you want change you need to come out and contest the elections. Even if you don’t have money or muscle power, you need to contest to bring a change in the existing system. If you have the will to change today for a better tomorrow, then God will show you the way.”
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Amidst the crorepatis contesting the Lok Sabha polls is a slum dweller who has neither savings nor movable assets. In fact, Martha D’Souza, an independent in fray for the North Goa seat is so poor that her contact point is a coin box pay phone outside her only immovable asset—an old, two-storied home in the middle of the Indiranagar slums in Chimbel, about 3 km from Panaji.
But poverty has turned into a poll USP for the 55-year-old widow of a police constable.
“I am poor and therefore I understand the pains and needs of the poor. I don’t have a manifesto that woos people before the elections. My aim is to work towards the upliftment of the poor. That’s my election manifesto,” says Martha. Her only source of income, according to her affidavit before the Election Commission, is a monthly pension of Rs 2,000.
Well aware that her competitors are not as poorly placed, the SSC educated Martha, who unsuccessfully contested two Assembly elections from Santa Cruz constituency in the past, says “money doesn’t matter”.
“What have the lahkpati and crorepati politicians done for the poor? Absolutely nothing. I have won the hearts of the poor here and they have contributed Rs 20,000 for my campaign. I will use the money to display banners and announce my candidature on a mobile loudspeaker,” says the candidate whose symbol is a coconut.
Quizzed about why she’s in the race, she shoots back, “If you want change you need to come out and contest the elections. Even if you don’t have money or muscle power, you need to contest to bring a change in the existing system. If you have the will to change today for a better tomorrow, then God will show you the way.”
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Coastal police in Goa yet to get high-speed patrol boats
Coastal police in Goa yet to get high-speed patrol boats
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The coastal police will have to wait till after the Parliamentary polls to put to use the sophisticated skills they recently learnt.
Trained to operate high-speed, bullet-proof boats fitted with machine guns, the 65 policemen attached to three coastal stations will have to instead be content with patrolling the state’s 105-km coastline on four old, worn out boats.
This is because the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), which has an order to prepare 116 GRP patrol boats for the western state coastal police, is yet to supply the state government with the high-speed patrol vehicles.
After the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, with a view to improve coastal patrolling, the central home ministry decided to allocate high-speed boats to states on the west coast. Goa, accordingly, is due to receive four five-tonne ‘Invaders’ and four 12-tonne ‘Hell Raisers’, all highly sophisticated machines, capable of withstanding terrorist strikes.
“We are yet to get the high-speed boats from GSL. But we have been told that we will be immediately allotted one five-tonne speedboat as soon as a formal order is issued by the central ministry,” said a senior police official.
Officials at GSL, wishing anonymity on account of the election code of conduct, told TOI, “The boats are being built at GSL unit II in Goa. About 30-odd boats are ready and will be handed over to the government of India and the respective coastal police including Goa soon.”
While the five-tonne petrol vessels can hold 16 persons each, the 12-tonne diesel boats can accommodate 20 each.
Moreover, the former vessels feature two outboard motors, wireless systems and bullet-proof cabins that can withstand an AK47 charge from 10 m.
The latter boats, on the other hand, have jet propulsion engines, can travel up to 40 nautical miles and can be used for deep sea patrolling. These 12-tonne vessels are called the mothership and can’t be detected on radar.
“The boats are unsinkable, designed for the patrol party’s safety. Not only can they be used for patrolling, they can also be used for rescue operations and are very popular with the European coastal police,” said sources.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The coastal police will have to wait till after the Parliamentary polls to put to use the sophisticated skills they recently learnt.
Trained to operate high-speed, bullet-proof boats fitted with machine guns, the 65 policemen attached to three coastal stations will have to instead be content with patrolling the state’s 105-km coastline on four old, worn out boats.
This is because the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), which has an order to prepare 116 GRP patrol boats for the western state coastal police, is yet to supply the state government with the high-speed patrol vehicles.
After the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, with a view to improve coastal patrolling, the central home ministry decided to allocate high-speed boats to states on the west coast. Goa, accordingly, is due to receive four five-tonne ‘Invaders’ and four 12-tonne ‘Hell Raisers’, all highly sophisticated machines, capable of withstanding terrorist strikes.
“We are yet to get the high-speed boats from GSL. But we have been told that we will be immediately allotted one five-tonne speedboat as soon as a formal order is issued by the central ministry,” said a senior police official.
Officials at GSL, wishing anonymity on account of the election code of conduct, told TOI, “The boats are being built at GSL unit II in Goa. About 30-odd boats are ready and will be handed over to the government of India and the respective coastal police including Goa soon.”
While the five-tonne petrol vessels can hold 16 persons each, the 12-tonne diesel boats can accommodate 20 each.
Moreover, the former vessels feature two outboard motors, wireless systems and bullet-proof cabins that can withstand an AK47 charge from 10 m.
The latter boats, on the other hand, have jet propulsion engines, can travel up to 40 nautical miles and can be used for deep sea patrolling. These 12-tonne vessels are called the mothership and can’t be detected on radar.
“The boats are unsinkable, designed for the patrol party’s safety. Not only can they be used for patrolling, they can also be used for rescue operations and are very popular with the European coastal police,” said sources.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
New witness in Scarlett case: Fiona
New witness in Scarlett case: Fiona
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In a major development, Fiona MacKeown, mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that she has a new witness who claims he saw Scarlett on the night she died.
Speaking to TOI from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona refused to give details of the new witness "for I fear for his life", but said, "He is a local and told me that Scarlett was crying on the night she was murdered (on February 18, 2008 at Anjuna beach) and had asked him to take her home. He agreed but was stopped by a group of men he was afraid of."
Fiona further said that the witness contacted her and told her that he "has not been able to forgive himself since Scarlett was found dead, but is very afraid of a group of men".
Claiming to have the witness' name, address and photograph, she however, wants to know from the CBI "whether they can still proceed with the case without my statement". It may be recalled, that the Goa children's court refused the CBI request to issue a Letter Rogatory (LR), letter of request, to record Fiona's statement in the UK. Fiona has said repeatedly that she is scared to come to India to meet the CBI to give her statement, because she would be arrested following a case of negligent parenting being issued against her.
"I want the investigations in India to be over fast or the UK coroner will not release my daughter's body for burial. I desperately want to bury my daughter so we can move forward with our lives," said Fiona.
Meanwhile, even as she has written to the police to assure her that she will not be arrested or detained in India and would be allowed to meet the CBI in Mumbai, Fiona has also replied to the questionnaire sent by the Goa police.
The Goa police had raised questions about Fiona's children, her source of income, purpose of visit to India along with her children.
Her replies have been very brief. To a question on whether Scarlett was consuming drugs or liquor, Fiona has replied: Drugs, no. Drink, she was permitted to have a small drink on special occasions with a meal. She has further stated that she was not aware if Julio and Scarlett were visiting nightclubs, nor did she visit nightclubs with her children. As for whether Julio or Scarlett were in love with each other, Fiona's answer has been in the negative.
She has also termed the relationship
between Julio and Scarlett, "platonic, working and friends". She insists she did not leave Scarlett alone with Julio in Goa. "She was not alone. She was in the care of Julio Lobo, an adult man, who was in the care of his aunts. She wanted the experience of working in Goa," Fiona has said in her reply. She has further said that Scarlett stayed in Goa "on her own wish".
To a question on whether she was aware that Julio was looking after Scarlett's day-to-day expenditure, she said, "No. I used to give her money when she visited us and I understand he was paying her for working."
11 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: In a major development, Fiona MacKeown, mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that she has a new witness who claims he saw Scarlett on the night she died.
Speaking to TOI from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona refused to give details of the new witness "for I fear for his life", but said, "He is a local and told me that Scarlett was crying on the night she was murdered (on February 18, 2008 at Anjuna beach) and had asked him to take her home. He agreed but was stopped by a group of men he was afraid of."
Fiona further said that the witness contacted her and told her that he "has not been able to forgive himself since Scarlett was found dead, but is very afraid of a group of men".
Claiming to have the witness' name, address and photograph, she however, wants to know from the CBI "whether they can still proceed with the case without my statement". It may be recalled, that the Goa children's court refused the CBI request to issue a Letter Rogatory (LR), letter of request, to record Fiona's statement in the UK. Fiona has said repeatedly that she is scared to come to India to meet the CBI to give her statement, because she would be arrested following a case of negligent parenting being issued against her.
"I want the investigations in India to be over fast or the UK coroner will not release my daughter's body for burial. I desperately want to bury my daughter so we can move forward with our lives," said Fiona.
Meanwhile, even as she has written to the police to assure her that she will not be arrested or detained in India and would be allowed to meet the CBI in Mumbai, Fiona has also replied to the questionnaire sent by the Goa police.
The Goa police had raised questions about Fiona's children, her source of income, purpose of visit to India along with her children.
Her replies have been very brief. To a question on whether Scarlett was consuming drugs or liquor, Fiona has replied: Drugs, no. Drink, she was permitted to have a small drink on special occasions with a meal. She has further stated that she was not aware if Julio and Scarlett were visiting nightclubs, nor did she visit nightclubs with her children. As for whether Julio or Scarlett were in love with each other, Fiona's answer has been in the negative.
She has also termed the relationship
between Julio and Scarlett, "platonic, working and friends". She insists she did not leave Scarlett alone with Julio in Goa. "She was not alone. She was in the care of Julio Lobo, an adult man, who was in the care of his aunts. She wanted the experience of working in Goa," Fiona has said in her reply. She has further said that Scarlett stayed in Goa "on her own wish".
To a question on whether she was aware that Julio was looking after Scarlett's day-to-day expenditure, she said, "No. I used to give her money when she visited us and I understand he was paying her for working."
11 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
NGO Sangath to conduct study on autism
NGO Sangath to conduct study on autism
PANAJI: The non-governmental organisation Sangath will conduct a study on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children in India, as part of
Autism Research and Training Initiative (ARTI) project in collaboration with Jyot, a Goa based support group for families affected by the disorder.
"Studies in the US, where most work has been done, suggest that up to 1 in 150 children have this disorder. However, there is no reliable data on ASD in India, nor are there any tools to help community health workers identify children with these disorders," said Gauri Divan from Sangath. "As a result, ASD remains a little understood condition in the country," she added.
ASD affects the development of language and communication, social interaction and restricts interests. While development of language and communication deals with the way a child learns vocabulary and describes his needs, social interaction deals with how a child interacts with others and restricted interests means the limited activities that a child is interested in.
Sangath is one of three south Asian organizations to have been awarded grants by the US based NGO Autism Speaks to launch a research program to improve the understanding of ASD in the region.
The ARTI project was launched recently and a two-day meeting was held with the stake-holders in Goa on Thursday, wherein it was agreed to strengthen regional collaboration to improve the understanding of ASD.
12 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: The non-governmental organisation Sangath will conduct a study on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children in India, as part of
Autism Research and Training Initiative (ARTI) project in collaboration with Jyot, a Goa based support group for families affected by the disorder.
"Studies in the US, where most work has been done, suggest that up to 1 in 150 children have this disorder. However, there is no reliable data on ASD in India, nor are there any tools to help community health workers identify children with these disorders," said Gauri Divan from Sangath. "As a result, ASD remains a little understood condition in the country," she added.
ASD affects the development of language and communication, social interaction and restricts interests. While development of language and communication deals with the way a child learns vocabulary and describes his needs, social interaction deals with how a child interacts with others and restricted interests means the limited activities that a child is interested in.
Sangath is one of three south Asian organizations to have been awarded grants by the US based NGO Autism Speaks to launch a research program to improve the understanding of ASD in the region.
The ARTI project was launched recently and a two-day meeting was held with the stake-holders in Goa on Thursday, wherein it was agreed to strengthen regional collaboration to improve the understanding of ASD.
12 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
30 rape cases reported in '08
30 rape cases reported in '08
PANAJI: There were more rape cases reported in 2008 than the previous years. In 2008, there were 30 rape cases reported as compared to 20 cases
in 2007 and 21 in 2006. Data reveals that more minors were raped as compared to majors in the state.
Statistics available with the police department show that in 2005 there were 20 cases of rape, of which 15 victims were minors while five were majors. In 2006, there were 21 cases of rape, of which 14 were minors and seven majors.
The situation was not very different in 2007 when 20 cases of rape were registered. Of these, 15 were minor victims while five were major. The number of rape cases rose to 30 in 2008, with 18 minor and 12 major victims.
Even though the rate of detection has improved, the conviction rate remains low. In 2004, about 48 persons were accused of rape. While in 2005, 33 were accused of rape, in 2006, 19 were arrested. In 2007, 24 were arrested for rape and the number increased to 39 in 2008.
In 2004, six accused were convicted in a rape case, while in 2005, only one person was convicted. The trend continued in 2006 with one person being convicted for rape. In 2007, two persons were convicted for rape. In 2008, there was not a single conviction of rape, the records revealed.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: There were more rape cases reported in 2008 than the previous years. In 2008, there were 30 rape cases reported as compared to 20 cases
in 2007 and 21 in 2006. Data reveals that more minors were raped as compared to majors in the state.
Statistics available with the police department show that in 2005 there were 20 cases of rape, of which 15 victims were minors while five were majors. In 2006, there were 21 cases of rape, of which 14 were minors and seven majors.
The situation was not very different in 2007 when 20 cases of rape were registered. Of these, 15 were minor victims while five were major. The number of rape cases rose to 30 in 2008, with 18 minor and 12 major victims.
Even though the rate of detection has improved, the conviction rate remains low. In 2004, about 48 persons were accused of rape. While in 2005, 33 were accused of rape, in 2006, 19 were arrested. In 2007, 24 were arrested for rape and the number increased to 39 in 2008.
In 2004, six accused were convicted in a rape case, while in 2005, only one person was convicted. The trend continued in 2006 with one person being convicted for rape. In 2007, two persons were convicted for rape. In 2008, there was not a single conviction of rape, the records revealed.
13 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Modi grounded
Modi grounded
Narendra Modi arrived two hours late for his rally at Bicholim on Wednesday and apologized saying, “I was supposed to come by helicopter. But
they refused to take off stating that it was dark. Therefore, I had travel by road.”
Police sources said, “He got late in Maharashtra and as it was dark when he arrived in Goa, it was not advisable to move him in a helicopter from Dabolim to Bicholim.”
An AAI official said, “I think the Navy should be contacted about this as it was the their Air Traffic Controller on duty at that time.” Queries with the Navy drew a similar response. “It is the AAI who has to answer this. It is the AAI who had stipulated rules on no flights after sunset,” a navy official said.
16 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Narendra Modi arrived two hours late for his rally at Bicholim on Wednesday and apologized saying, “I was supposed to come by helicopter. But
they refused to take off stating that it was dark. Therefore, I had travel by road.”
Police sources said, “He got late in Maharashtra and as it was dark when he arrived in Goa, it was not advisable to move him in a helicopter from Dabolim to Bicholim.”
An AAI official said, “I think the Navy should be contacted about this as it was the their Air Traffic Controller on duty at that time.” Queries with the Navy drew a similar response. “It is the AAI who has to answer this. It is the AAI who had stipulated rules on no flights after sunset,” a navy official said.
16 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Chief Secretary's told to ensure that no info about voter support to political parties is collected
Told To Ensure That No Info About Voter Support To Political Parties Is Collected
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The Central home department has sent a circular to chief secretaries of all states and union territories asking them to ensure that the
state police and intelligence authorities don't collect data regarding electoral
support to political parties at the village level. The Election Commission has termed such activities of the police department as "extra jurisdictional".
Government sources said that the home secretary, government of India, had sent the circular almost a fortnight back to chief secretaries after the Election Commission objected to the "collection of data in respect of electoral support to political parties at the grassroots level, including the support commanded by anti-socials and mafia" during the elections by the state police and intelligence authorities.
Special home secretary Diwan Chand confirmed the receipt of the letter. "We have received a letter from the home secretary and it has been sent to the director general of police for necessary action." SP (Special branch) who is also the PRO, Atmaram V Deshpande, confirmed having received the circular. Saying that "it is an internal communication", he refused to comment any further.
The circular notes that the EC has observed that using the police and intelligence authorities to collect information from grassroots is a misuse of government machinery and "by no stretch can be treated as part of the duties and responsibilities of the police department".The circular also states that the EC has asked that necessary systems be put in place to ensure that "such extra-jurisdictional activities of the police department" are kept in check and don't occur.
Sources said that the EC had intimated the home ministry about certain communications in a particular state directing the police and intelligence authorities in that state to collect data in respect of electoral support to political parties at the grassroots level, including the support commanded by anti-socials and mafia. However, the name of the state which had issued such directions is not mentioned in the letter.
The submission of regular political inputs to the ruling party, due to which they have an edge over their political rivals, is common even in Goa. However government sources discarded such a possibility saying, "There is no direction from the state government to collect information about electoral support to political parties at grassroots."
9 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The Central home department has sent a circular to chief secretaries of all states and union territories asking them to ensure that the
state police and intelligence authorities don't collect data regarding electoral
support to political parties at the village level. The Election Commission has termed such activities of the police department as "extra jurisdictional".
Government sources said that the home secretary, government of India, had sent the circular almost a fortnight back to chief secretaries after the Election Commission objected to the "collection of data in respect of electoral support to political parties at the grassroots level, including the support commanded by anti-socials and mafia" during the elections by the state police and intelligence authorities.
Special home secretary Diwan Chand confirmed the receipt of the letter. "We have received a letter from the home secretary and it has been sent to the director general of police for necessary action." SP (Special branch) who is also the PRO, Atmaram V Deshpande, confirmed having received the circular. Saying that "it is an internal communication", he refused to comment any further.
The circular notes that the EC has observed that using the police and intelligence authorities to collect information from grassroots is a misuse of government machinery and "by no stretch can be treated as part of the duties and responsibilities of the police department".The circular also states that the EC has asked that necessary systems be put in place to ensure that "such extra-jurisdictional activities of the police department" are kept in check and don't occur.
Sources said that the EC had intimated the home ministry about certain communications in a particular state directing the police and intelligence authorities in that state to collect data in respect of electoral support to political parties at the grassroots level, including the support commanded by anti-socials and mafia. However, the name of the state which had issued such directions is not mentioned in the letter.
The submission of regular political inputs to the ruling party, due to which they have an edge over their political rivals, is common even in Goa. However government sources discarded such a possibility saying, "There is no direction from the state government to collect information about electoral support to political parties at grassroots."
9 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Casino vessel Leela not fit to move out of Mandovi: DGS
Casino vessel Leela not fit to move out of Mandovi: DGS
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: The Leela approached the high court opposing the state government's move to shift all casino vessels to Aguada Bay stating that it would
affect its commercial operations. It also said it had permission from the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to operate the vessel within the sheltered waters of the Mandovi. But now it appears there is more than meets the eye.
Replying to Leela's claim, DGS has filed an affidavit in the high court pointing out that the vessel has major technical deficiencies and cannot operate as a passenger vessel beyond sheltered waters.
"The owners of MV The Leela put up the vessel for certification as a class VII passenger vessel, the lowest class permissible. However, the vessel couldn't meet the requirements for even this class, as it didn't comply with many of the rule requirements," states the affidavit. It adds, "The Leela, in its present condition, can't operate as a passenger vessel beyond sheltered waters."
When contacted, all that a Leela Venture Ltd official said was, "We have taken permission from DGS to operate on river Mandovi as a class VII passenger vessel and we have been granted the same. This is also displayed on the vessel."
The situation is akin to a 15-year-old luxury bus with major technical deficiencies not meeting the required RTO fitness standards yet being granted permission on the bus operator's assurance that it will ply only within city limits.
The Leela was accorded the certification after exemptions were granted with regard to watertight doors, deadlights for scuttles/windows for emergency use, double bottom tanks, detachable sills to facilitate safe passenger entry and exit, and exemption for diesel engine driven emergency fire pump with hand cranking. All this was explained in a letter from DGS to Leela on June 18, 2008.
The affidavit also states, "The vessel has major technical deficiencies with reference to the applicable rule requirements. Due to this, its operation as a passenger vessel is restricted to within sheltered waters. In case they want to operate the vessel beyond sheltered waters of any port or river, they have to rectify the deficiencies and comply fully with the relevant rules applicable for a passenger vessel for the intended area and season of operation."
Refuting the casino vessel's claim that it had DGS's permission to operate within the sheltered waters of the Mandovi, DGS said that the owners had themselves requested exemption from various rule requirements for a class VII certification, stating that operation would be restricted to the sheltered waters of river Mandovi, within inland water limits, that it will operate in inshore areas where traffic restrictions are not applicable, that the vessel will not ferry passengers and that the vessel will not sail or cruise, but remain moored in the river, except for bunkering purposes at which time there will be no passengers on board. This, Leela had communicated to the DGS on June 9, 2008.
The status and exemptions were granted taking into consideration the area and nature of operation of the vessel under provisions of MS (Construction and Survey of Passenger Ships) Rules 1981.
Passenger ships in India are classified in seven classes, class I being the highest and permitted to undertake "international voyages" and class VII the lowest. Class VII passenger vessels can be engaged only on voyages during the "fair season" between ports in India and the aren't allowed further than 5 miles from land.
8 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: The Leela approached the high court opposing the state government's move to shift all casino vessels to Aguada Bay stating that it would
affect its commercial operations. It also said it had permission from the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to operate the vessel within the sheltered waters of the Mandovi. But now it appears there is more than meets the eye.
Replying to Leela's claim, DGS has filed an affidavit in the high court pointing out that the vessel has major technical deficiencies and cannot operate as a passenger vessel beyond sheltered waters.
"The owners of MV The Leela put up the vessel for certification as a class VII passenger vessel, the lowest class permissible. However, the vessel couldn't meet the requirements for even this class, as it didn't comply with many of the rule requirements," states the affidavit. It adds, "The Leela, in its present condition, can't operate as a passenger vessel beyond sheltered waters."
When contacted, all that a Leela Venture Ltd official said was, "We have taken permission from DGS to operate on river Mandovi as a class VII passenger vessel and we have been granted the same. This is also displayed on the vessel."
The situation is akin to a 15-year-old luxury bus with major technical deficiencies not meeting the required RTO fitness standards yet being granted permission on the bus operator's assurance that it will ply only within city limits.
The Leela was accorded the certification after exemptions were granted with regard to watertight doors, deadlights for scuttles/windows for emergency use, double bottom tanks, detachable sills to facilitate safe passenger entry and exit, and exemption for diesel engine driven emergency fire pump with hand cranking. All this was explained in a letter from DGS to Leela on June 18, 2008.
The affidavit also states, "The vessel has major technical deficiencies with reference to the applicable rule requirements. Due to this, its operation as a passenger vessel is restricted to within sheltered waters. In case they want to operate the vessel beyond sheltered waters of any port or river, they have to rectify the deficiencies and comply fully with the relevant rules applicable for a passenger vessel for the intended area and season of operation."
Refuting the casino vessel's claim that it had DGS's permission to operate within the sheltered waters of the Mandovi, DGS said that the owners had themselves requested exemption from various rule requirements for a class VII certification, stating that operation would be restricted to the sheltered waters of river Mandovi, within inland water limits, that it will operate in inshore areas where traffic restrictions are not applicable, that the vessel will not ferry passengers and that the vessel will not sail or cruise, but remain moored in the river, except for bunkering purposes at which time there will be no passengers on board. This, Leela had communicated to the DGS on June 9, 2008.
The status and exemptions were granted taking into consideration the area and nature of operation of the vessel under provisions of MS (Construction and Survey of Passenger Ships) Rules 1981.
Passenger ships in India are classified in seven classes, class I being the highest and permitted to undertake "international voyages" and class VII the lowest. Class VII passenger vessels can be engaged only on voyages during the "fair season" between ports in India and the aren't allowed further than 5 miles from land.
8 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, April 03, 2009
Policemen scurry for jobs in Gulf, on ships
Policemen scurry for jobs in Gulf, on ships
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: This is perhaps what they mean when they say ‘eat your cake and have it too’. The state police is witnessing an increasing trend of its
personnel, mostly constables, going on long sabbaticals, thanks to the state’s extraordinary leave scheme which gives government officials the opportunity to stay away from work for up to five years and take up employment elsewhere.
In 2008, 15 policemen were granted extraordinary leave - a huge jump from the earlier annual average of about five officers. Most of them took up jobs abroad or onboard ships.
Says SP (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande, “Many avail of the scheme as their police training and field experience gets them high paying jobs as security or vigilance officers on cruise liners or in Gulf countries.” Former SP Alex Rasquinha explains the reason behind the phenomenon, “Not only is a policeman’s salary low, but many, after a few years of service end up with a battered morale as only those with political influence get good postings. Salaries after the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations are better, but the feeling of not getting anywhere in the force is increasing.”
Records reveal that a majority of the policemen seeking such leave are constables. There are few cases of police sub-inspectors and a lone police inspector seeking extraordinary leave.
3 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: This is perhaps what they mean when they say ‘eat your cake and have it too’. The state police is witnessing an increasing trend of its
personnel, mostly constables, going on long sabbaticals, thanks to the state’s extraordinary leave scheme which gives government officials the opportunity to stay away from work for up to five years and take up employment elsewhere.
In 2008, 15 policemen were granted extraordinary leave - a huge jump from the earlier annual average of about five officers. Most of them took up jobs abroad or onboard ships.
Says SP (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande, “Many avail of the scheme as their police training and field experience gets them high paying jobs as security or vigilance officers on cruise liners or in Gulf countries.” Former SP Alex Rasquinha explains the reason behind the phenomenon, “Not only is a policeman’s salary low, but many, after a few years of service end up with a battered morale as only those with political influence get good postings. Salaries after the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations are better, but the feeling of not getting anywhere in the force is increasing.”
Records reveal that a majority of the policemen seeking such leave are constables. There are few cases of police sub-inspectors and a lone police inspector seeking extraordinary leave.
3 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Goa cops beat up partying tourists
Goa cops beat up partying tourists
TNN
PANAJI: British passport holder Bhairavi (name changed), visited a shack on Ozrant beach on Saturday night for some fun but returned home with
injuries and the feeling that Goa is an unsafe holiday destination.
She is among several tourists, domestic and foreign, allegedly beaten up by cops while attending a party. The incident took place when the police tried to stop the party—which they claim was being illegally held—resulting in a clash. “A group of police invaded the beach and indiscriminately beat tourists—children, men and women. Some people are still in hospital and in trauma,” said Bhairavi, who claimed that she too was manhandled by five policemen and a policewoman.
“Four policemen took hold of my arms, another pulled my hair and they tried to drag me away. I was very frightened,” said British passport holder Bhairavi (name changed), who claimed to be one of the victims.
“I kept shouting and pulling and after some minutes they let me go. This is the first time I have experienced something like this. Until now, whenever the police have stopped a party it has been politely but firmly, never with sticks and guns. The music gets stopped, but people can stay as long as they like.”
A French tourist, who didn’t wish to be named, said that at about 8 pm on Saturday, they were suddenly surrounded by policemen wielding sticks. “The policemen roughly dragged the DJ and two teenage Indian boys. At the same time they waved their sticks threateningly at us and shouted ‘Leave the beach or we will beat you’. They were hitting the tables and people with sticks, even as some tourists begged for mercy,” the French tourist said. He said there were about 20 policemen, while the tourists at the party were about 50.
“They were all holding lathis (sticks), about six of them had rifles and one had a pistol. The men with rifles were pointing them at tourists, at times right in the tourists’ faces,” said Bhairavi.
Speaking to TOI, SP (PRO) AV Deshpande refuted the allegations and said, “Police had to use mild force because the people at the party started pelting bottles at the Anjuna cops who had gone to stop an illegal party. As there was a riot like situation, the police had to yield to a mild lathi charge to disperse the unruly mob.” He added that four policemen were injured.
The police have arrested three foreigners, as well as shack owner Premnath Agarwadekar, for having an illegal party and playing loud music.
The police also suspect that two foreigners arrested for the attack on Anjuna police might be under the influence of drugs. “While one of the foreigners agreed to a blood and urine test to check for the presence of alcohol and drugs, two others refused the same. We suspect that they may be under the influence of drugs,” said police sources.
The police arrested Russian DJ Sergiy Semachev, 35, German national Wuhl Heinrich Aldysius, 60, and Swedish national Role Peter Gradin, 49. Aldysius who had agreed to the blood and urine test was found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the Anjuna police have recommended the cancellation of the restaurant’s license to the tourism department for having an illegal dance party and playing loud music.
March 24,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: British passport holder Bhairavi (name changed), visited a shack on Ozrant beach on Saturday night for some fun but returned home with
injuries and the feeling that Goa is an unsafe holiday destination.
She is among several tourists, domestic and foreign, allegedly beaten up by cops while attending a party. The incident took place when the police tried to stop the party—which they claim was being illegally held—resulting in a clash. “A group of police invaded the beach and indiscriminately beat tourists—children, men and women. Some people are still in hospital and in trauma,” said Bhairavi, who claimed that she too was manhandled by five policemen and a policewoman.
“Four policemen took hold of my arms, another pulled my hair and they tried to drag me away. I was very frightened,” said British passport holder Bhairavi (name changed), who claimed to be one of the victims.
“I kept shouting and pulling and after some minutes they let me go. This is the first time I have experienced something like this. Until now, whenever the police have stopped a party it has been politely but firmly, never with sticks and guns. The music gets stopped, but people can stay as long as they like.”
A French tourist, who didn’t wish to be named, said that at about 8 pm on Saturday, they were suddenly surrounded by policemen wielding sticks. “The policemen roughly dragged the DJ and two teenage Indian boys. At the same time they waved their sticks threateningly at us and shouted ‘Leave the beach or we will beat you’. They were hitting the tables and people with sticks, even as some tourists begged for mercy,” the French tourist said. He said there were about 20 policemen, while the tourists at the party were about 50.
“They were all holding lathis (sticks), about six of them had rifles and one had a pistol. The men with rifles were pointing them at tourists, at times right in the tourists’ faces,” said Bhairavi.
Speaking to TOI, SP (PRO) AV Deshpande refuted the allegations and said, “Police had to use mild force because the people at the party started pelting bottles at the Anjuna cops who had gone to stop an illegal party. As there was a riot like situation, the police had to yield to a mild lathi charge to disperse the unruly mob.” He added that four policemen were injured.
The police have arrested three foreigners, as well as shack owner Premnath Agarwadekar, for having an illegal party and playing loud music.
The police also suspect that two foreigners arrested for the attack on Anjuna police might be under the influence of drugs. “While one of the foreigners agreed to a blood and urine test to check for the presence of alcohol and drugs, two others refused the same. We suspect that they may be under the influence of drugs,” said police sources.
The police arrested Russian DJ Sergiy Semachev, 35, German national Wuhl Heinrich Aldysius, 60, and Swedish national Role Peter Gradin, 49. Aldysius who had agreed to the blood and urine test was found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the Anjuna police have recommended the cancellation of the restaurant’s license to the tourism department for having an illegal dance party and playing loud music.
March 24,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ingo denied business visa to India
Ingo denied business visa to India
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Ingo's Saturday night market at Arpora, which is a popular hotspot among locals and tourists
alike, may soon become a thing of the past.
The brain behind the bazzar Ingo Grill was served a deportation order in 2006, but managed to stay in Goa till March 4, 2009, due to a pending court case. However, Grill has now been denied a business visa to India by the Consulate General of India in Munich as he has been "blacklisted" in India.
In response to Ingo's application on March 9, 2009, to the Consulate General of India in Munich for the grant of a business visa to India, the Indian Consulate replied, "The government of India has considered your case but it is not possible to issue a visa for the purpose mentioned". The reply was sent on March 12, 2009.
Speaking to TOI from Germany, Grill, who had left the state on March 4, 2009, for Germany, to renew his visa which expired on March 7, said, "I have been orally told that I am being denied a visa because I have been blacklisted by the Indian authorities. This is a conspiracy to keep me out and take over my business and property."
"Some kind of a trick is being played on me. I came to Goa on a business visa, invested in a business and a home and now I am being denied a visa without even being heard," he added.
Grill, a German national, first came to Goa in the 70s. He set up a company called Saturday Nite Bazaar Private Limited about 8 years ago to start the night market at Arpora, on the lines of the hippie flea markets that began in Anjuna back in the 60s. The Saturday night market slowly evolved into a vibrant bazaar famous for music, food and shopping.
Grill who along with his wife also purchased property in Calangute got on the wrong side of the law in 2006, and was served a notice under Section 3/2 C of the Deportation of Foreigners Act, which gives the government powers to deport a foreign national. He was ultimately served a deportation order on February 3, 2006, as he was "suspected to be involved in undesirable activities". But he could not be deported as he filed an appeal in the court against the order. The matter is still pending in the fast track court.
Grill said, "My family is in Goa and I am in Germany. I came to renew my visa and now I am stuck. I have invested all my life's savings in Goa. If I am denied entry into India, I will lose everything."
19 Mar 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Ingo's Saturday night market at Arpora, which is a popular hotspot among locals and tourists
alike, may soon become a thing of the past.
The brain behind the bazzar Ingo Grill was served a deportation order in 2006, but managed to stay in Goa till March 4, 2009, due to a pending court case. However, Grill has now been denied a business visa to India by the Consulate General of India in Munich as he has been "blacklisted" in India.
In response to Ingo's application on March 9, 2009, to the Consulate General of India in Munich for the grant of a business visa to India, the Indian Consulate replied, "The government of India has considered your case but it is not possible to issue a visa for the purpose mentioned". The reply was sent on March 12, 2009.
Speaking to TOI from Germany, Grill, who had left the state on March 4, 2009, for Germany, to renew his visa which expired on March 7, said, "I have been orally told that I am being denied a visa because I have been blacklisted by the Indian authorities. This is a conspiracy to keep me out and take over my business and property."
"Some kind of a trick is being played on me. I came to Goa on a business visa, invested in a business and a home and now I am being denied a visa without even being heard," he added.
Grill, a German national, first came to Goa in the 70s. He set up a company called Saturday Nite Bazaar Private Limited about 8 years ago to start the night market at Arpora, on the lines of the hippie flea markets that began in Anjuna back in the 60s. The Saturday night market slowly evolved into a vibrant bazaar famous for music, food and shopping.
Grill who along with his wife also purchased property in Calangute got on the wrong side of the law in 2006, and was served a notice under Section 3/2 C of the Deportation of Foreigners Act, which gives the government powers to deport a foreign national. He was ultimately served a deportation order on February 3, 2006, as he was "suspected to be involved in undesirable activities". But he could not be deported as he filed an appeal in the court against the order. The matter is still pending in the fast track court.
Grill said, "My family is in Goa and I am in Germany. I came to renew my visa and now I am stuck. I have invested all my life's savings in Goa. If I am denied entry into India, I will lose everything."
19 Mar 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Fiona seeks assurance from cops against arrest
Fiona seeks assurance from cops against arrest
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: With the Goa Children's Court refusing the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) request to issue a letter rogatory (LR), which is required to record the statement of Fiona Mackeown, mother of British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling, in her home in UK, she is now contemplating coming to India to meet the CBI. However, she wants an assurance from the Goa police that she would not be arrested on her arrival in India.
"I am trying to find a way to speak to the CBI and have been emailing them but they have not answered yet," said Fiona in an email from her home in Devon, UK. Fully aware that the court's decision comes as a setback to the CBI, which is struggling to record Fiona's statement, which is crucial in investigating the death of Scarlett at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008, Fiona is willing to take the risk. The central investigating agency had moved the application in the Goa Children's Court seeking permission to issue the letter, which would have roped in the Interpol in London to take Fiona's statement.
"I do think the Goa police could arrest me or take my passport to stop me leaving until they finished investigations and I would need some reassurance that this would not happen before I would fly to Mumbai to talk to the CBI," she said. The Goa police is inquiring into a complaint of neglect and failure to provide her daughter a safe environment, which ultimately led to the alleged rape and murder of the minor.
Fiona's counsel Vikram Varma said, "I will ask her to come to India as she wants to assist the CBI as well as the Goa police in its inquiry. But she needs to be assured in writing that the Goa police will not harass her and she will be able to return back to her country to look after her children."
He added, "It is too often in this country that complainants and witnesses are harassed to a point where they don't pursue the case to the advantage of the accused. I hope we can reverse such a probability in this matter."
Meanwhile, as the case drags on and Fiona's trip to India has been delayed, Scarlett awaits a decent burial, even after a year of her death. Infact, the organs have not even reached UK. "The organs are supposed to be collected by an undertaker from Mumbai. But there will be no burial until the investigations in India are over," she added.
17 Mar 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: With the Goa Children's Court refusing the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) request to issue a letter rogatory (LR), which is required to record the statement of Fiona Mackeown, mother of British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling, in her home in UK, she is now contemplating coming to India to meet the CBI. However, she wants an assurance from the Goa police that she would not be arrested on her arrival in India.
"I am trying to find a way to speak to the CBI and have been emailing them but they have not answered yet," said Fiona in an email from her home in Devon, UK. Fully aware that the court's decision comes as a setback to the CBI, which is struggling to record Fiona's statement, which is crucial in investigating the death of Scarlett at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008, Fiona is willing to take the risk. The central investigating agency had moved the application in the Goa Children's Court seeking permission to issue the letter, which would have roped in the Interpol in London to take Fiona's statement.
"I do think the Goa police could arrest me or take my passport to stop me leaving until they finished investigations and I would need some reassurance that this would not happen before I would fly to Mumbai to talk to the CBI," she said. The Goa police is inquiring into a complaint of neglect and failure to provide her daughter a safe environment, which ultimately led to the alleged rape and murder of the minor.
Fiona's counsel Vikram Varma said, "I will ask her to come to India as she wants to assist the CBI as well as the Goa police in its inquiry. But she needs to be assured in writing that the Goa police will not harass her and she will be able to return back to her country to look after her children."
He added, "It is too often in this country that complainants and witnesses are harassed to a point where they don't pursue the case to the advantage of the accused. I hope we can reverse such a probability in this matter."
Meanwhile, as the case drags on and Fiona's trip to India has been delayed, Scarlett awaits a decent burial, even after a year of her death. Infact, the organs have not even reached UK. "The organs are supposed to be collected by an undertaker from Mumbai. But there will be no burial until the investigations in India are over," she added.
17 Mar 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Monday, March 16, 2009
Rape victim's father says she won't be safe at home
Rape victim's father says she won't be safe at home
TNN
PANAJI: The father of the minor girl, who was raped by a police constable and two of his friends for about three months, visited his daughter at
Apna Ghar on Sunday but refused to take her back home.
He said, "After I told Apna Ghar authorities that I was worried about my daughter's safety and life, they insisted that I take her back home. But I when I asked them to put it in writing, they refused."
The father said that Apna Ghar authorities insisted that he take his daughter home saying that she was fighting with everyone and beating up girls at Apna Ghar.
"When they said that I should take her home, I told them that I would have no option but to go to the police for help," the girl's father disclosed.
The dismayed father reiterated that his daughter was not safe with him at home as the accused were out on bail and had even threatened him.
The minor was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old police constable Shamba alias Dipak Jhalmi, attached to the Indian Reserve Battalion, and his accomplices. They were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting the girl for over three months.
This incident has shocked and surprised several child activists. "When a parent can't protect a child and the child is in a vulnerable state, then it is the responsibility of the state to protect and provide a safe environment for the child. That's the reason Apna Ghar has been set up. When the father is expressing his inability to provide a safe environment for his daughter at home then it is the responsibility of the Child Welfare Committee members to ensure the safety of the girl," said Arun Pandey of Anyay Rahit Zindagi, an NGO.
Matthew Kurian of El Shaddai Charitable Trust said, "The Child Welfare committee should act positively and professionally, and work towards providing a child-friendly and healthy atmosphere at Apna Ghar. CWC has no right to force the child on the helpless parent."
Surprisingly, director of Children's Rights Goa, an NGO, Nishtha Desai, who is handling the girl's case, is strangely maintaining silence.
She first claimed that she was not aware of the matter. Later she said, "I don't want to comment. We work on several issues without speaking to the media."
16 March,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: The father of the minor girl, who was raped by a police constable and two of his friends for about three months, visited his daughter at
Apna Ghar on Sunday but refused to take her back home.
He said, "After I told Apna Ghar authorities that I was worried about my daughter's safety and life, they insisted that I take her back home. But I when I asked them to put it in writing, they refused."
The father said that Apna Ghar authorities insisted that he take his daughter home saying that she was fighting with everyone and beating up girls at Apna Ghar.
"When they said that I should take her home, I told them that I would have no option but to go to the police for help," the girl's father disclosed.
The dismayed father reiterated that his daughter was not safe with him at home as the accused were out on bail and had even threatened him.
The minor was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old police constable Shamba alias Dipak Jhalmi, attached to the Indian Reserve Battalion, and his accomplices. They were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting the girl for over three months.
This incident has shocked and surprised several child activists. "When a parent can't protect a child and the child is in a vulnerable state, then it is the responsibility of the state to protect and provide a safe environment for the child. That's the reason Apna Ghar has been set up. When the father is expressing his inability to provide a safe environment for his daughter at home then it is the responsibility of the Child Welfare Committee members to ensure the safety of the girl," said Arun Pandey of Anyay Rahit Zindagi, an NGO.
Matthew Kurian of El Shaddai Charitable Trust said, "The Child Welfare committee should act positively and professionally, and work towards providing a child-friendly and healthy atmosphere at Apna Ghar. CWC has no right to force the child on the helpless parent."
Surprisingly, director of Children's Rights Goa, an NGO, Nishtha Desai, who is handling the girl's case, is strangely maintaining silence.
She first claimed that she was not aware of the matter. Later she said, "I don't want to comment. We work on several issues without speaking to the media."
16 March,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Father refuses to take home raped minor
Father refuses to take home raped minor
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: The father of a minor girl who was raped by a police constable and two of his friends for about three months has refused to take his
daughter back home from Apna Ghar stating he feared for her life.
Speaking to TOI, the minor’s father said that he had received a phone call from the government-run home for children in need of care and shelter on Saturday asking him to take his minor daughter back.
“They said she keeps fighting with everyone. But I am worried about my daughter’s safety and life as there is no one at home and the accused are out on bail,” said the father. Claiming that the accused “roam around the vicinity of our house till late night and have even threatened me”, the father said, “I will meet my daughter on Sunday but I won’t bring her home as I can’t ensure her safety. She is safer at the government home.”
The minor was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old police constable attached to the Indian Reserve Battalion and two of his friends. They were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting the girl for over three months.
The incident came to light recently when the girl developed abdominal pain and was taken to a private doctor in Marcel, who referred her to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim, where it was found that she was pregnant. The girl underwent an abortion and was admitted to Apna Ghar. She was subsequently referred to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim, for almost two weeks for “violent behaviour”.
March 15, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: The father of a minor girl who was raped by a police constable and two of his friends for about three months has refused to take his
daughter back home from Apna Ghar stating he feared for her life.
Speaking to TOI, the minor’s father said that he had received a phone call from the government-run home for children in need of care and shelter on Saturday asking him to take his minor daughter back.
“They said she keeps fighting with everyone. But I am worried about my daughter’s safety and life as there is no one at home and the accused are out on bail,” said the father. Claiming that the accused “roam around the vicinity of our house till late night and have even threatened me”, the father said, “I will meet my daughter on Sunday but I won’t bring her home as I can’t ensure her safety. She is safer at the government home.”
The minor was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old police constable attached to the Indian Reserve Battalion and two of his friends. They were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting the girl for over three months.
The incident came to light recently when the girl developed abdominal pain and was taken to a private doctor in Marcel, who referred her to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim, where it was found that she was pregnant. The girl underwent an abortion and was admitted to Apna Ghar. She was subsequently referred to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim, for almost two weeks for “violent behaviour”.
March 15, The Times of India, Goa edition
Polish hitman wanted for Germany killing held in Goa
Polish hitman wanted for Germany killing held in Goa
TNN
PANAJI: Crime branch sleuths on Saturday arrested a Polish contract killer in Chopdem, Pernem. He is wanted by the German police for killing a
businessman in that country in November last year and had been hiding in Goa since January.
According to police sources, Adam Pyotr Mancic was paid e25,000 to get rid of the businessman. On November 3, 2008 he shot the man in his head, heart and back and on November 20 landed in Mumbai on a flight from Berlin.
“We had information that Mancic, who is wanted by the Interpol, was hiding in Goa. We received the arrest warrant issued against him by a German court through the CBI and the warrant was executed by the crime branch. He will be handed over to the CBI soon,” said Atmaram Deshpande, SP (PRO).
Mancic, who is believed to be in his early thirties, has been constantly changing his base in Goa.
“Somewhere in January he came to Goa and first stayed in Arambol, then shifted to Canacona, later moved to Ashvem and a week ago shifted to Chopdem,” sources said.
The contract killer was picked up because the rival businessman who ordered the killing was arrested in Germany and spilled the beans, sources said.
March 15,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Crime branch sleuths on Saturday arrested a Polish contract killer in Chopdem, Pernem. He is wanted by the German police for killing a
businessman in that country in November last year and had been hiding in Goa since January.
According to police sources, Adam Pyotr Mancic was paid e25,000 to get rid of the businessman. On November 3, 2008 he shot the man in his head, heart and back and on November 20 landed in Mumbai on a flight from Berlin.
“We had information that Mancic, who is wanted by the Interpol, was hiding in Goa. We received the arrest warrant issued against him by a German court through the CBI and the warrant was executed by the crime branch. He will be handed over to the CBI soon,” said Atmaram Deshpande, SP (PRO).
Mancic, who is believed to be in his early thirties, has been constantly changing his base in Goa.
“Somewhere in January he came to Goa and first stayed in Arambol, then shifted to Canacona, later moved to Ashvem and a week ago shifted to Chopdem,” sources said.
The contract killer was picked up because the rival businessman who ordered the killing was arrested in Germany and spilled the beans, sources said.
March 15,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Andhra student dies in Goa
Andhra student dies in Goa
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: A 22-year-old engineering student from Hyderabad, Aditya Reddy, who was on a trip to Goa along with two of his friends died in a primary
health centre at Candolim.
The police suspect that it could be a case of drug overdose. However, the postmortem report is inconclusive and the victims viscera has been preserved for chemical analysis.
Police sources said Aditya Reddy, who is from an influential business and political family in AP, had come on a trip to Goa along with three friends on March 8. On Friday morning at about 8 am, Aditya started vomiting and his friend called for the ambulance. Aditya was shifted to PHC, Candolim, where he was declared brought dead. Later, the body was sent for post-mortem to GMC.
Police sources said that the post-mortem report stated the cause of death was due to severe pulmonary and cerebral edema. Forensic doctors said severe pulmonary and cerebral edema is majorly found in persons who have died due to drug overdose or asthma problem.
Though one of Aditya's family members owns a resort in North Goa, the friends preferred to stay in a rented room at Baga. While one of the friends left on Thursday morning, Aditya and his other friend were to leave on Friday. Police sources said, they would be out of the room most of the time and came back only late in the night. Even on Friday the two friends returned at around 12.30 am after a party.
However, Police suspect that the Aditya was in the habit of consuming drugs, as on reaching his rented room at Baga at about 8.30 am, the Calangute police found two empty syringe packets, chillums (to smoke hashish or ganja) and the room smelled of narcotic substance. However, the police said that they didnt find any narcotic drugs in the room.
Confirming that the post-mortem has been conducted, SP (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande said, The cause of death is not clear as the viscera is preserved for analysis. No foul play is suspected in the preliminary investigation.
14 March 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: A 22-year-old engineering student from Hyderabad, Aditya Reddy, who was on a trip to Goa along with two of his friends died in a primary
health centre at Candolim.
The police suspect that it could be a case of drug overdose. However, the postmortem report is inconclusive and the victims viscera has been preserved for chemical analysis.
Police sources said Aditya Reddy, who is from an influential business and political family in AP, had come on a trip to Goa along with three friends on March 8. On Friday morning at about 8 am, Aditya started vomiting and his friend called for the ambulance. Aditya was shifted to PHC, Candolim, where he was declared brought dead. Later, the body was sent for post-mortem to GMC.
Police sources said that the post-mortem report stated the cause of death was due to severe pulmonary and cerebral edema. Forensic doctors said severe pulmonary and cerebral edema is majorly found in persons who have died due to drug overdose or asthma problem.
Though one of Aditya's family members owns a resort in North Goa, the friends preferred to stay in a rented room at Baga. While one of the friends left on Thursday morning, Aditya and his other friend were to leave on Friday. Police sources said, they would be out of the room most of the time and came back only late in the night. Even on Friday the two friends returned at around 12.30 am after a party.
However, Police suspect that the Aditya was in the habit of consuming drugs, as on reaching his rented room at Baga at about 8.30 am, the Calangute police found two empty syringe packets, chillums (to smoke hashish or ganja) and the room smelled of narcotic substance. However, the police said that they didnt find any narcotic drugs in the room.
Confirming that the post-mortem has been conducted, SP (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande said, The cause of death is not clear as the viscera is preserved for analysis. No foul play is suspected in the preliminary investigation.
14 March 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Police send Fiona 2-page questionnaire
Police send Fiona 2-page questionnaire
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With British teenager Scarlett Keeling's mother Fiona Mackeown reluctant to come to Goa fearing arrest, the Goa police have sent her a
two-page questionnaire and also requested her to be present for an inquiry into a complaint of neglect and failure to provide her daughter a safe environment, which ultimately led to the alleged rape and murder of the minor.
The Goa police, in a letter to Fiona, have sought to know whether she was "aware that Scarlett used to consume drugs/liquor," whether she was "visiting night clubs along with your children," if she was aware that "Scarlett was in love with Julio Lobo" or "Lobo in love with Scarlett" and that "Julio and Scarlett were visiting nightclubs." Fiona is yet to reply to the questionnaire.
When TOI contacted Fiona through an email in Devon, UK, she said, "I did not know Scarlett was taking drugs and am certain that she was not taking drugs when we were in England. Scarlet told me that she had once tried cannabis but did not like it."
Recently, her former boyfriend Robert Clarke, with whom she had come to Goa along with her children, had claimed that Fiona was warned about Scarlett's drug dealing by one of her older sons.
"Most of his statements to the press were lies. I am starting to have doubts about Rob as a person. He told me shortly after I returned home that he was still in contact with people at Curlies. He also claimed to have seen scratches on Julio's arms and neck the day after Scarlett died. Why didn't he share with me or the police this information," she said.
The police have also asked Fiona about her ex-boyfriend Robert Clark and his profession, as well as Fiona's source of income. Police have also asked Fiona why she left Scarlett alone in Goa and left for Gokarna. They asked, "whether you had asked Scarlett to stay in Goa or she had stayed as per her own wish."
Responding to this, Fiona said that Scarlett didn't really refuse to leave Goa. "She expressed her wish to stay and work with Julio. After many long discussions we compromised and agreed that she could stay as long as she shared some of her time in India with us. Julio was a very good actor and played the part of a responsible caring adult very well."
The police have specifically asked Fiona whether she knew Julio before she came to India and whether she was aware that Julio was looking after the day-to-day expenditure of Scarlett. They have also asked about one teenager called Shanti and whether Shanti had damaged Julio's vehicle as Scarlet was moving with him.
March 14, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With British teenager Scarlett Keeling's mother Fiona Mackeown reluctant to come to Goa fearing arrest, the Goa police have sent her a
two-page questionnaire and also requested her to be present for an inquiry into a complaint of neglect and failure to provide her daughter a safe environment, which ultimately led to the alleged rape and murder of the minor.
The Goa police, in a letter to Fiona, have sought to know whether she was "aware that Scarlett used to consume drugs/liquor," whether she was "visiting night clubs along with your children," if she was aware that "Scarlett was in love with Julio Lobo" or "Lobo in love with Scarlett" and that "Julio and Scarlett were visiting nightclubs." Fiona is yet to reply to the questionnaire.
When TOI contacted Fiona through an email in Devon, UK, she said, "I did not know Scarlett was taking drugs and am certain that she was not taking drugs when we were in England. Scarlet told me that she had once tried cannabis but did not like it."
Recently, her former boyfriend Robert Clarke, with whom she had come to Goa along with her children, had claimed that Fiona was warned about Scarlett's drug dealing by one of her older sons.
"Most of his statements to the press were lies. I am starting to have doubts about Rob as a person. He told me shortly after I returned home that he was still in contact with people at Curlies. He also claimed to have seen scratches on Julio's arms and neck the day after Scarlett died. Why didn't he share with me or the police this information," she said.
The police have also asked Fiona about her ex-boyfriend Robert Clark and his profession, as well as Fiona's source of income. Police have also asked Fiona why she left Scarlett alone in Goa and left for Gokarna. They asked, "whether you had asked Scarlett to stay in Goa or she had stayed as per her own wish."
Responding to this, Fiona said that Scarlett didn't really refuse to leave Goa. "She expressed her wish to stay and work with Julio. After many long discussions we compromised and agreed that she could stay as long as she shared some of her time in India with us. Julio was a very good actor and played the part of a responsible caring adult very well."
The police have specifically asked Fiona whether she knew Julio before she came to India and whether she was aware that Julio was looking after the day-to-day expenditure of Scarlett. They have also asked about one teenager called Shanti and whether Shanti had damaged Julio's vehicle as Scarlet was moving with him.
March 14, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Most statutory rape cases fall flat in court
Most statutory rape cases fall flat in court
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Two months into the year and the police have already registered five cases of rape of minor girls. In four of the cases, the "victims"
told the police they had accompanied the men to the spots where the "rapes" took place.
Audrey Pinto from the NGO Children’s Rights Goa said, "Talking to the victims we found that the girls had consensual sex. However, the boys were arrested as sex with a minor even though consensual is an offence."
There were 14 cases of rape of minors in 2006 and 18 in 2008. Sources said about six cases were disposed of in the children’s court without a conviction as the victim had turned hostile or the victim’s mother (who in most cases is the complainant) submitted that the accused has consented to marry the victim at a future date.
Admitting that this is not rare, Auda Viegas of Bailancho Ekvott said, "Society needs to introspect on this issue and we need to amend the law according to the needs of the time, as most girls now mature by 16."
Matthew Kurian of El Shaddai Charitable Trust feels that the age of maturity is even lower. He said, "Girls are now sexually active by the age of 13 or 14. They want to explore and strive for attention and are often exploited in the name of love and affection."
Police sources said confusion prevails when the girls are aged between 16 and 18. "The Goa Children’s Act says any child below 18 is a minor, but under the Indian Penal Code, consensual sex with a person above the age of 16 is not rape," said police sources.
13 Mar 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Two months into the year and the police have already registered five cases of rape of minor girls. In four of the cases, the "victims"
told the police they had accompanied the men to the spots where the "rapes" took place.
Audrey Pinto from the NGO Children’s Rights Goa said, "Talking to the victims we found that the girls had consensual sex. However, the boys were arrested as sex with a minor even though consensual is an offence."
There were 14 cases of rape of minors in 2006 and 18 in 2008. Sources said about six cases were disposed of in the children’s court without a conviction as the victim had turned hostile or the victim’s mother (who in most cases is the complainant) submitted that the accused has consented to marry the victim at a future date.
Admitting that this is not rare, Auda Viegas of Bailancho Ekvott said, "Society needs to introspect on this issue and we need to amend the law according to the needs of the time, as most girls now mature by 16."
Matthew Kurian of El Shaddai Charitable Trust feels that the age of maturity is even lower. He said, "Girls are now sexually active by the age of 13 or 14. They want to explore and strive for attention and are often exploited in the name of love and affection."
Police sources said confusion prevails when the girls are aged between 16 and 18. "The Goa Children’s Act says any child below 18 is a minor, but under the Indian Penal Code, consensual sex with a person above the age of 16 is not rape," said police sources.
13 Mar 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
In rating, Goa schools fare poorly
In rating, Goa schools fare poorly
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: This is one report card that may not impress many. No one has achieved an A+ grade, very few made an A, while a majority attained B,
which means that the performance of those ranked is neither excellent nor good, but just satisfactory.
The grades awarded by Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana — Educational Quality Improvement Programme (BJS-EDUQIP), an NGO, for the Goa education department with an aim to improve the quality of education may be cause of concern to parents and educationists alike. The grading is also meant to help the department identify the strong and weak points of each school.
Only nine of the 307 high and higher secondary schools graded in the state got an A, while in the primary and middle sections just 28 made the mark. Goa has 1,266 primary schools, 71 middle schools, 374 high school and 79 higher secondary schools. However, about 243 schools governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education didn’t participate in the grading system.
“The accreditation programme was designed and developed by including six main parameters — management/governance, infrastructure, administration, teachers, students and academics, besides 253 other parameters,” said BJS-EDUQIP manager Suhas Thakurdesai.
Education director Dr Celsa Pinto said, “We entered into a MoU with BJS-EDUQIP not just to detect the problem but to improve the situation in order to ensure that Goa has the country’s best education system within the next few years.”
20 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: This is one report card that may not impress many. No one has achieved an A+ grade, very few made an A, while a majority attained B,
which means that the performance of those ranked is neither excellent nor good, but just satisfactory.
The grades awarded by Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana — Educational Quality Improvement Programme (BJS-EDUQIP), an NGO, for the Goa education department with an aim to improve the quality of education may be cause of concern to parents and educationists alike. The grading is also meant to help the department identify the strong and weak points of each school.
Only nine of the 307 high and higher secondary schools graded in the state got an A, while in the primary and middle sections just 28 made the mark. Goa has 1,266 primary schools, 71 middle schools, 374 high school and 79 higher secondary schools. However, about 243 schools governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education didn’t participate in the grading system.
“The accreditation programme was designed and developed by including six main parameters — management/governance, infrastructure, administration, teachers, students and academics, besides 253 other parameters,” said BJS-EDUQIP manager Suhas Thakurdesai.
Education director Dr Celsa Pinto said, “We entered into a MoU with BJS-EDUQIP not just to detect the problem but to improve the situation in order to ensure that Goa has the country’s best education system within the next few years.”
20 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Apna Ghar inmate turns violent
Apna Ghar inmate turns violent
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The authorities at Apna Ghar, Merces, lodged a police complaint against an 18-year-old inmate for turning violent. According to Old Goa
police, officials of Apna Ghar said that one Cyrone Rodrigues who recently turned 18 complained that he was feeling unwell. However when a nurse approached him, he allegedy turned violent.
"They also alleged that he damaged the tube-lights," a police officer said. Rodrigues was admitted to the home after police detained him in crimal cases when he was a minor. The police said that he was allegedly involved in a theft case at Marcel and other cases at Porvorim, Pernem and Panaji. The police are conducting further investigations.
28 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The authorities at Apna Ghar, Merces, lodged a police complaint against an 18-year-old inmate for turning violent. According to Old Goa
police, officials of Apna Ghar said that one Cyrone Rodrigues who recently turned 18 complained that he was feeling unwell. However when a nurse approached him, he allegedy turned violent.
"They also alleged that he damaged the tube-lights," a police officer said. Rodrigues was admitted to the home after police detained him in crimal cases when he was a minor. The police said that he was allegedly involved in a theft case at Marcel and other cases at Porvorim, Pernem and Panaji. The police are conducting further investigations.
28 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Asked to leave, but when did they arrive?
Asked to leave, but when did they arrive?
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: German national Karl Heinz Tetzener is not the only foreigner whose date of entry into Goa is not known. The cops have no clue of the
entry date of any of the 122 foreigners served deportation orders between 2002 and 2008.
The foreigner’s registration office (FRO) is also clueless about the whereabouts of four foreigners served deportation orders as they have no confirmation of their having left the country, reveals information obtained by TOI under the Right to Information Act.
Add to this three foreigners overstaying due to court cases pending against them and four others who have approached the court after having been served deportation orders for being involved in “undesirable activities”.
A majority of those served deportation orders were convicted for overstaying under the Foreigner’s Act, while 11 convicted under the NDPS Act were also issued deportation orders.
Explaining why the foreigner’s date of arrival in Goa is not known, an FRO official said, “If a foreigner, especially on a tourist visa, arrives in some other part of the country and then comes to Goa, we don’t have their date of arrival in Goa. However, instructions have been issued to local police to keep a check on foreigners so that they don’t overstay or violate the provisions of law.”
11 March 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: German national Karl Heinz Tetzener is not the only foreigner whose date of entry into Goa is not known. The cops have no clue of the
entry date of any of the 122 foreigners served deportation orders between 2002 and 2008.
The foreigner’s registration office (FRO) is also clueless about the whereabouts of four foreigners served deportation orders as they have no confirmation of their having left the country, reveals information obtained by TOI under the Right to Information Act.
Add to this three foreigners overstaying due to court cases pending against them and four others who have approached the court after having been served deportation orders for being involved in “undesirable activities”.
A majority of those served deportation orders were convicted for overstaying under the Foreigner’s Act, while 11 convicted under the NDPS Act were also issued deportation orders.
Explaining why the foreigner’s date of arrival in Goa is not known, an FRO official said, “If a foreigner, especially on a tourist visa, arrives in some other part of the country and then comes to Goa, we don’t have their date of arrival in Goa. However, instructions have been issued to local police to keep a check on foreigners so that they don’t overstay or violate the provisions of law.”
11 March 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
He came, he saw, stayed on and got a ration card
He came, he saw, stayed on and got a ration card
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: German national Karl Heinz Tetzener who has managed to acquire various documents, including a ration card and a driving licence in Goa,
claims he has done nothing wrong.
“The police say that the documents I acquired in Goa are fake. I don’t know if I am right or wrong, but I definitely know that I am innocent,” Tetzener said.
“If the authorities weren’t supposed to issue me certificates, why did they? I have always been open about my nationality. I have led a straight life and I don’t cheat,” Tetzener defends himself.
Police sources said that after arresting Tetzener, they conducted an inquiry and recorded his statement and that the foreigner’s registration office (FRO) has written to the special secretary (home) to take cognizance of the matter. The FRO wrote that Tetzener, “has no Indian citizenship nor is there any record of him having applied for it”.
All that SP (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande said was: “We have forwarded the matter to home department for their consideration.”
Describing his journey to Goa, Tetzener from Itzehoe in North Germany, said that finishing his four-year service in the German army, he took a break to travel the world. With a backpack and some money, he travelled to Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and then India. “Before I entered the other countries, they insisted on valid documents, but at the Wagah border I was allowed to enter the country with others in a bus from Pakistan. No one stopped me and after travelling in various Indian states, I came down to Goa, where I met my wife, a Goan.” They were married in December 1978 and have two daughters, settled in Goa. The couple have a civil marriage registration certificate issued from Ponda.
“Goa is my home. In the last 30 years I have never visited Germany. I may have made some mistakes. But please have a heart, my home and family is here. I have no home in Germany. If I am deported, where will I go? My heart is here,” Tetzener pleads.
7 Mar 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: German national Karl Heinz Tetzener who has managed to acquire various documents, including a ration card and a driving licence in Goa,
claims he has done nothing wrong.
“The police say that the documents I acquired in Goa are fake. I don’t know if I am right or wrong, but I definitely know that I am innocent,” Tetzener said.
“If the authorities weren’t supposed to issue me certificates, why did they? I have always been open about my nationality. I have led a straight life and I don’t cheat,” Tetzener defends himself.
Police sources said that after arresting Tetzener, they conducted an inquiry and recorded his statement and that the foreigner’s registration office (FRO) has written to the special secretary (home) to take cognizance of the matter. The FRO wrote that Tetzener, “has no Indian citizenship nor is there any record of him having applied for it”.
All that SP (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande said was: “We have forwarded the matter to home department for their consideration.”
Describing his journey to Goa, Tetzener from Itzehoe in North Germany, said that finishing his four-year service in the German army, he took a break to travel the world. With a backpack and some money, he travelled to Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and then India. “Before I entered the other countries, they insisted on valid documents, but at the Wagah border I was allowed to enter the country with others in a bus from Pakistan. No one stopped me and after travelling in various Indian states, I came down to Goa, where I met my wife, a Goan.” They were married in December 1978 and have two daughters, settled in Goa. The couple have a civil marriage registration certificate issued from Ponda.
“Goa is my home. In the last 30 years I have never visited Germany. I may have made some mistakes. But please have a heart, my home and family is here. I have no home in Germany. If I am deported, where will I go? My heart is here,” Tetzener pleads.
7 Mar 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Illegal forex trade in Goa on upswing
Illegal forex trade in Goa on upswing
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: While holidaying in Goa, British tourist Daniel Clemente discovered a simple way to avoid interminable queues and paperwork while exchanging currency. He familiarized himself with unauthorized dealers — from jewellers to taxi drivers, shack employees to tour guides.
Clemente claims that by trading in this manner, he not only earned more, but also saved about Rs 25, which is charged as taxes by recognized forex dealers.
Illegal exchange of foreign currency in Goa is a fact. The directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) in a report to the state government in 2008 emphasized on the "emerging/thriving hawala racket in the state" and said that those involved also had a hand in counterfeit Indian currency, "the quantum of which, though may be diminutive at present but if not impeded, may soon assume gigantic proportions".
The report suggested that unscrupulous individuals involved in accumulating foreign currency from various sources to funnel the hawala system had surfaced in North Goa and claimed to be working for "D" company. Reports from the US suggest that 'hawala' money in India is directly linked to financing terrorists.
Explaining how the illegal trade functions, a forex analyst said, "The foreigners get 50 paise to Re 1 more than the market value on every pound or dollar exchanged, while the unauthorized dealer earns up to Rs 3, depending on the market situation. The foreign currency is collected daily by small time agents in the state and routed out."
Though intelligence sources reveal that the magnitude of the problem is huge and the illegal trade continues largely unchallenged in the state, former DGP B S Brar said, "Such activities have not come to our notice."
However, police records reveal that between January 2007 and December 2008, the number of cases of duplication or counterfeiting of currency reported was 32. Of these, only five were detected and chargesheets filed. Police claim that a majority of such cases were based on complaints by banks discovering fake notes in their treasury.
Police sources said probes into counterfeit notes revealed a Bangladeshi link but investigations reached a “dead end” as those arrested for possession of fake notes were poor labourers sent to the state to act as couriers.
Police sources also said that investigations found that counterfeit money was sent through couriers to Goa to be handed over to a contractor, who would contact them. But the police are clueless as to where this money goes from the contractor's hands.
SP (public relations) Atmaram Deshpande said, "Though investigations continue, the trail has gone cold as the real persons involved in the trade are not traceable. The persons arrested are mere couriers or end beneficiaries."
(Name of tourist changed on request)
5 Mar 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair , TNN
PANAJI: While holidaying in Goa, British tourist Daniel Clemente discovered a simple way to avoid interminable queues and paperwork while exchanging currency. He familiarized himself with unauthorized dealers — from jewellers to taxi drivers, shack employees to tour guides.
Clemente claims that by trading in this manner, he not only earned more, but also saved about Rs 25, which is charged as taxes by recognized forex dealers.
Illegal exchange of foreign currency in Goa is a fact. The directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) in a report to the state government in 2008 emphasized on the "emerging/thriving hawala racket in the state" and said that those involved also had a hand in counterfeit Indian currency, "the quantum of which, though may be diminutive at present but if not impeded, may soon assume gigantic proportions".
The report suggested that unscrupulous individuals involved in accumulating foreign currency from various sources to funnel the hawala system had surfaced in North Goa and claimed to be working for "D" company. Reports from the US suggest that 'hawala' money in India is directly linked to financing terrorists.
Explaining how the illegal trade functions, a forex analyst said, "The foreigners get 50 paise to Re 1 more than the market value on every pound or dollar exchanged, while the unauthorized dealer earns up to Rs 3, depending on the market situation. The foreign currency is collected daily by small time agents in the state and routed out."
Though intelligence sources reveal that the magnitude of the problem is huge and the illegal trade continues largely unchallenged in the state, former DGP B S Brar said, "Such activities have not come to our notice."
However, police records reveal that between January 2007 and December 2008, the number of cases of duplication or counterfeiting of currency reported was 32. Of these, only five were detected and chargesheets filed. Police claim that a majority of such cases were based on complaints by banks discovering fake notes in their treasury.
Police sources said probes into counterfeit notes revealed a Bangladeshi link but investigations reached a “dead end” as those arrested for possession of fake notes were poor labourers sent to the state to act as couriers.
Police sources also said that investigations found that counterfeit money was sent through couriers to Goa to be handed over to a contractor, who would contact them. But the police are clueless as to where this money goes from the contractor's hands.
SP (public relations) Atmaram Deshpande said, "Though investigations continue, the trail has gone cold as the real persons involved in the trade are not traceable. The persons arrested are mere couriers or end beneficiaries."
(Name of tourist changed on request)
5 Mar 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Abuse charge on Apna Ghar caretakers
Abuse charge on Apna Ghar caretakers
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The Dickensian nightmares from the Merces-based juvenile home Apna Ghar continue to pour out with Children’s Rights in Goa, an NGO, on
Saturday filing a police complaint against two caretakers for allegedly abusing and assaulting two minor boys over four months ago.
The complaint follows an inquiry report submitted on February 16 by the principal magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board to the Women and Child Development department for “action and compliance” in the matter. On October 6, 2008, the CRG filed an application before the JJB for an inquiry into an incident, three days prior, where two minors were allegedly assaulted and abused by caretakers Raju and Minguel.
22 Feb 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The Dickensian nightmares from the Merces-based juvenile home Apna Ghar continue to pour out with Children’s Rights in Goa, an NGO, on
Saturday filing a police complaint against two caretakers for allegedly abusing and assaulting two minor boys over four months ago.
The complaint follows an inquiry report submitted on February 16 by the principal magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board to the Women and Child Development department for “action and compliance” in the matter. On October 6, 2008, the CRG filed an application before the JJB for an inquiry into an incident, three days prior, where two minors were allegedly assaulted and abused by caretakers Raju and Minguel.
22 Feb 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa no longer safe for tourists?
Goa no longer safe for tourists?
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANJIM: Goa has always had its share of tourist troubles — from the nudist beaches of the sixties to drug peddling, and more recently, to
pedophilia rackets. But the spike in murder and rape incidents in the last two months has darkened the mood in this otherwise charming and peaceful coastal state.
Under threat is the beach. That sandy magnet which attracts solo backpackers, families and young groups from all over the world, has become the site of unnatural deaths. As attack after attack of rape and unnatural drowning has hit the news, the sense of dismay has grown among the tourists and locals. It has forced the Goa government, which is in a perpetual state of political intrigue, to take a hard look at a scenario where there are five lakh tourists every year and only 68 tourist police personnel to be of assistance.
In the last two years, more than 126 foreign tourists have died in Goa. The figures of the Goa Police's Foreigners Branch reveal that 55 foreigners died during 2006, 59 in 2007 and 12 in the first two months of 2008. Scarlette Keeling's death it appears is only the latest in a string of crime.
• A 32-year-old British woman was raped on January 12 allegedly by an unknown person in Panjim.
• Two British women were sexually assaulted by the owner of a resort, a Russian woman was attacked by a beach cafe owner in south Goa and a Finnish woman alleged that two local men threatened to rape her at a beach shack.
• Two Japanese tourists Urano Asaki and Keigo Yashiki died of drug abuse early this month.
"Sexual harassment in public places is routine, even if you are with your partner. Men stare at you and pass lewd comments. The police are not at all helpful. I am scared to go to the Anjuna or Vagator beach after sunset," said American tourist Dakini Runningbear, who says she was drugged and robbed at Anjuna.
But police officials say that foreign tourists cannot afford to simply point the finger. They allege that foreigners have little respect for local values and dress codes and come to the state only for trance parties on the beach, fuelled by drugs and alcohol.
But others feel that a zero-tolerance approach to drugs is the only way to get rid of the rot. "The majority of deaths occur due to drug abuse," said Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Nitin Kunkolienkar. "Rape and sexual abuse are interlinked with drug abuse. If the government really wants to control this, they need to seriously take on the local drug lords rather than watch helplessly. Goa can only become the best tourist destination if the government acts on the intelligence reports it has gathered against drug abuse."
SP (Tourist Police) Waman Tari downplayed the issue. "Goa is safe," he stated. This view is maintained even by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd managing director Sanjith Rodrigues. However, Rodrigues admits that foreigners need to be more careful about whom they befriend. "Security needs to be tightened and people should also be careful," he added.
9 Mar 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANJIM: Goa has always had its share of tourist troubles — from the nudist beaches of the sixties to drug peddling, and more recently, to
pedophilia rackets. But the spike in murder and rape incidents in the last two months has darkened the mood in this otherwise charming and peaceful coastal state.
Under threat is the beach. That sandy magnet which attracts solo backpackers, families and young groups from all over the world, has become the site of unnatural deaths. As attack after attack of rape and unnatural drowning has hit the news, the sense of dismay has grown among the tourists and locals. It has forced the Goa government, which is in a perpetual state of political intrigue, to take a hard look at a scenario where there are five lakh tourists every year and only 68 tourist police personnel to be of assistance.
In the last two years, more than 126 foreign tourists have died in Goa. The figures of the Goa Police's Foreigners Branch reveal that 55 foreigners died during 2006, 59 in 2007 and 12 in the first two months of 2008. Scarlette Keeling's death it appears is only the latest in a string of crime.
• A 32-year-old British woman was raped on January 12 allegedly by an unknown person in Panjim.
• Two British women were sexually assaulted by the owner of a resort, a Russian woman was attacked by a beach cafe owner in south Goa and a Finnish woman alleged that two local men threatened to rape her at a beach shack.
• Two Japanese tourists Urano Asaki and Keigo Yashiki died of drug abuse early this month.
"Sexual harassment in public places is routine, even if you are with your partner. Men stare at you and pass lewd comments. The police are not at all helpful. I am scared to go to the Anjuna or Vagator beach after sunset," said American tourist Dakini Runningbear, who says she was drugged and robbed at Anjuna.
But police officials say that foreign tourists cannot afford to simply point the finger. They allege that foreigners have little respect for local values and dress codes and come to the state only for trance parties on the beach, fuelled by drugs and alcohol.
But others feel that a zero-tolerance approach to drugs is the only way to get rid of the rot. "The majority of deaths occur due to drug abuse," said Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Nitin Kunkolienkar. "Rape and sexual abuse are interlinked with drug abuse. If the government really wants to control this, they need to seriously take on the local drug lords rather than watch helplessly. Goa can only become the best tourist destination if the government acts on the intelligence reports it has gathered against drug abuse."
SP (Tourist Police) Waman Tari downplayed the issue. "Goa is safe," he stated. This view is maintained even by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd managing director Sanjith Rodrigues. However, Rodrigues admits that foreigners need to be more careful about whom they befriend. "Security needs to be tightened and people should also be careful," he added.
9 Mar 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Lax security at MPT matter of concern
Lax security at MPT matter of concern
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Should terrorists decide to exploit lax container security at ports to smuggle in bombs or WMDs, as warned by Navy chief Admiral Sureesh
Mehta on Wednesday, Mormugao port would be an easy entry point.
Not only are the checks on container cargo leaving Mormugao Port Trust inadequate, but goods are inspected only manually by the customs. Further, if one is a “known” importer, then the 5% selection process is followed, wherein only 5% of the goods are randomly checked.
Add to this the fact that the port has neither a bomb disposal squad nor a dog squad, no facility to scan cargo or CCTV’s to record the movement of people, even though there are allegations by port authorities that Pakistani seamen employed on international merchant ships are being illegally ferried by fishing trawlers and boats to the shore. General cargo berths 10 and 11 are close to Kharewada fishing jetty.
Admitting that the threat was real and the current security measures inadequate, port authorities and custom officials said they planned to plug the gaps and instal CCTVs at vital points, besides utilizing other equipment like radio frequency identification device for vehicles and bio-metric scan system for identification of personnel.
Mormugao port, which has lax security measures, handles about 15,000 containers a year. Only one feeder vessel arrives every eight days from Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is significant, as post the Mumbai attack, an intelligence input to states on the western coast raised concerns about Colombo’s links with the LeT and suspicion that “some boats from Colombo carrying explosives and arms” may land at Mangalore.
“After 9/11, the US has taken stringent steps to ensure proper security at its ports. But despite several instances of known landings of men and machinery in India we have not taken sufficient measures,” said officials.
“Security of the port is our responsibility. As far as container cargo is concerned, checking is done by the customs, not us. They have installed mobile and fixed scanners at other ports and with time, once there is sufficient container traffic, they will install a scanner here too,” said MPT chairman Praveen Agarwal.
“Despite our best efforts, it would be intelligence inputs and installation of container scanners and other equipment that would play a crucial role in thwarting any untoward act,” said Amit Kamat, president, Goa Custom House Agents Association.
A senior custom official said that it would be difficult to check each and every container and that the installation of a scanner may not really help. “Weapons can broken up and the components dispatched separately. The only possibility of identification being that of the core material which is possible with specialized equipment like Geiger counters usually used to detect gamma and beta radiation,” he said.
“Industry expects the customs department to clear the goods in a speedy manner. There is continuous demand to reduce the transaction time. Though enhancing security measures is now unavoidable, it will obviously increase the transaction time,” said Kamat. Clearance of goods at present takes about 48 hours.
On an average 100 to 140 containers containing machines, raw materials, HDPE granules used for making plastic, electronic components, cables, medical instruments and other raw materials are imported to Goa every eight days in the feeder vessel.
Once an importer of container cargo pays the duty, it is inspected by the customs, the contents opened and physically checked to verify the description, nature, quantity and weight. About 15 to 20 minutes is devoted to checking the container, said sources. But just 5% of a known importer’s cargo is checked at random to enable speedy clearance. “However, this depends on the nature of commodity, type of importer (manufacturer or exporter) and specific intelligence inputs. But if they are traders, then they check 100%,” said sources.
21 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Should terrorists decide to exploit lax container security at ports to smuggle in bombs or WMDs, as warned by Navy chief Admiral Sureesh
Mehta on Wednesday, Mormugao port would be an easy entry point.
Not only are the checks on container cargo leaving Mormugao Port Trust inadequate, but goods are inspected only manually by the customs. Further, if one is a “known” importer, then the 5% selection process is followed, wherein only 5% of the goods are randomly checked.
Add to this the fact that the port has neither a bomb disposal squad nor a dog squad, no facility to scan cargo or CCTV’s to record the movement of people, even though there are allegations by port authorities that Pakistani seamen employed on international merchant ships are being illegally ferried by fishing trawlers and boats to the shore. General cargo berths 10 and 11 are close to Kharewada fishing jetty.
Admitting that the threat was real and the current security measures inadequate, port authorities and custom officials said they planned to plug the gaps and instal CCTVs at vital points, besides utilizing other equipment like radio frequency identification device for vehicles and bio-metric scan system for identification of personnel.
Mormugao port, which has lax security measures, handles about 15,000 containers a year. Only one feeder vessel arrives every eight days from Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is significant, as post the Mumbai attack, an intelligence input to states on the western coast raised concerns about Colombo’s links with the LeT and suspicion that “some boats from Colombo carrying explosives and arms” may land at Mangalore.
“After 9/11, the US has taken stringent steps to ensure proper security at its ports. But despite several instances of known landings of men and machinery in India we have not taken sufficient measures,” said officials.
“Security of the port is our responsibility. As far as container cargo is concerned, checking is done by the customs, not us. They have installed mobile and fixed scanners at other ports and with time, once there is sufficient container traffic, they will install a scanner here too,” said MPT chairman Praveen Agarwal.
“Despite our best efforts, it would be intelligence inputs and installation of container scanners and other equipment that would play a crucial role in thwarting any untoward act,” said Amit Kamat, president, Goa Custom House Agents Association.
A senior custom official said that it would be difficult to check each and every container and that the installation of a scanner may not really help. “Weapons can broken up and the components dispatched separately. The only possibility of identification being that of the core material which is possible with specialized equipment like Geiger counters usually used to detect gamma and beta radiation,” he said.
“Industry expects the customs department to clear the goods in a speedy manner. There is continuous demand to reduce the transaction time. Though enhancing security measures is now unavoidable, it will obviously increase the transaction time,” said Kamat. Clearance of goods at present takes about 48 hours.
On an average 100 to 140 containers containing machines, raw materials, HDPE granules used for making plastic, electronic components, cables, medical instruments and other raw materials are imported to Goa every eight days in the feeder vessel.
Once an importer of container cargo pays the duty, it is inspected by the customs, the contents opened and physically checked to verify the description, nature, quantity and weight. About 15 to 20 minutes is devoted to checking the container, said sources. But just 5% of a known importer’s cargo is checked at random to enable speedy clearance. “However, this depends on the nature of commodity, type of importer (manufacturer or exporter) and specific intelligence inputs. But if they are traders, then they check 100%,” said sources.
21 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Obesity stalking Goans
Obesity stalking Goans
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Goan adults are far more overweight than other Indians and this is causing a serious concern among health professionals. And when it
comes to being obese, Goan women outdo the men.
The percentage of women who are overweight or obese is 27, much higher than the all India figure of 14.8%. The men are not far behind though, with 20.8% of Goan men being obese or overweight, again higher than the all India percentage of 12.1. This has been revealed by the Health Intelligence Bureau report, 2007, of the Directorate of Health Services.
The year of reference for the data is 2005-06 and it reveals the nutritional status of adults (age 15 to 49).
"Obesity is a growing disease among Goans. It is a silent killer," said Dr Digambar Naik from Vrundavan Hospital, Mapusa. Naik added that 60% of the patients above the age of 40 who come to the hospital are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.
"Abdominal obesity is a problem in Goa and about one-third of the adult population is obese," said Dr Rufino Monteiro from Vintage Hospital, Panaji.
A person with a BMI between 25 and 35 is deemed obese or overweight and those with BMI of 35 and above are considered to be morbidly obese.
"The socio-economic status in Goa being the highest in the country, we have the additional burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular ailments and cancer, which are linked to sedentary lifestyles that lead to obesity," said Goa Medical College’s preventive and social medicine associate professor Dr Jagdish Cacodcar.
26 Jun 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Goan adults are far more overweight than other Indians and this is causing a serious concern among health professionals. And when it
comes to being obese, Goan women outdo the men.
The percentage of women who are overweight or obese is 27, much higher than the all India figure of 14.8%. The men are not far behind though, with 20.8% of Goan men being obese or overweight, again higher than the all India percentage of 12.1. This has been revealed by the Health Intelligence Bureau report, 2007, of the Directorate of Health Services.
The year of reference for the data is 2005-06 and it reveals the nutritional status of adults (age 15 to 49).
"Obesity is a growing disease among Goans. It is a silent killer," said Dr Digambar Naik from Vrundavan Hospital, Mapusa. Naik added that 60% of the patients above the age of 40 who come to the hospital are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.
"Abdominal obesity is a problem in Goa and about one-third of the adult population is obese," said Dr Rufino Monteiro from Vintage Hospital, Panaji.
A person with a BMI between 25 and 35 is deemed obese or overweight and those with BMI of 35 and above are considered to be morbidly obese.
"The socio-economic status in Goa being the highest in the country, we have the additional burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular ailments and cancer, which are linked to sedentary lifestyles that lead to obesity," said Goa Medical College’s preventive and social medicine associate professor Dr Jagdish Cacodcar.
26 Jun 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
There's no recession at MPT
There's no recession at MPT
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Despite plunging global markets and an economic meltdown, Mormugao Port Trust's cargo traffic is set to touch 40 million tonnes this
financial year, above the estimated target of 37 million tonnes.
Confirming this MPT chairman Praveen Agarwal said, "This year we will set an all time record as cargo traffic at the port has gone much above what was estimated."
With just over a month to go to the end of the financial year, MPT expects to beat last year's traffic of 35.13 million tonnes and even the estimated target for the current financial year.
Sources at MPT said that recession has not affected them. "It is only getting better," sources said. MPT's traffic this financial is almost 9% of the total 519.24 million tonnes handled by the twelve major ports of India last year.
Much of the cargo has been in the form of iron ore and coal. Last year, over 27.30 million tonnes of iron ore had been exported through MPT mainly to China, Japan, Korea and some European countries. "Business picked up in December 2008 and January 2009, and iron ore exports increased, due to which traffic this financial would be almost similar to that of last year. But from April 2009, it may be a different tale altogether," said S Sridhar, executive director, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association.
Sources said that though ore makes up the bulk of the cargo, there has been a steady increase in liquid and general cargo traffic too. Besides, iron ore, 5.29 millions tonnes of coal or coke and 1.41 million tonnes of petroleum products and other liquid cargo were exported during the last financial year. The remaining traffic consisted of fertilizers, alumina, limestone, containerized cargo, HR steel coil and steel slabs.
Container business, however, declined. "On an average, 100 to 140 containers arrive in Goa every eight days in a feeder vessel from Colombo. But due to recession, this has gone down to 30 to 50 containers per voyage for almost a month now," said Amit Kamat, president, Goa Custom House Agents Association. Last year, MPT handled about 15,000 containers.
However, sources at MPT blame this decline not just on recession, but to the insufficient number of feeder vessels calling at the port, absence of four-lane highway and insufficient railway rakes for transport. "We are trying to put these things in place and once that is done, four years from now, we will have a handling capacity of about 50,000 containers," added sources.
At present with the container traffic insufficient, there is only a feeder vessel to and from Colombo, a transhipment port. No main line vessels call at MPT.
24 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Despite plunging global markets and an economic meltdown, Mormugao Port Trust's cargo traffic is set to touch 40 million tonnes this
financial year, above the estimated target of 37 million tonnes.
Confirming this MPT chairman Praveen Agarwal said, "This year we will set an all time record as cargo traffic at the port has gone much above what was estimated."
With just over a month to go to the end of the financial year, MPT expects to beat last year's traffic of 35.13 million tonnes and even the estimated target for the current financial year.
Sources at MPT said that recession has not affected them. "It is only getting better," sources said. MPT's traffic this financial is almost 9% of the total 519.24 million tonnes handled by the twelve major ports of India last year.
Much of the cargo has been in the form of iron ore and coal. Last year, over 27.30 million tonnes of iron ore had been exported through MPT mainly to China, Japan, Korea and some European countries. "Business picked up in December 2008 and January 2009, and iron ore exports increased, due to which traffic this financial would be almost similar to that of last year. But from April 2009, it may be a different tale altogether," said S Sridhar, executive director, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association.
Sources said that though ore makes up the bulk of the cargo, there has been a steady increase in liquid and general cargo traffic too. Besides, iron ore, 5.29 millions tonnes of coal or coke and 1.41 million tonnes of petroleum products and other liquid cargo were exported during the last financial year. The remaining traffic consisted of fertilizers, alumina, limestone, containerized cargo, HR steel coil and steel slabs.
Container business, however, declined. "On an average, 100 to 140 containers arrive in Goa every eight days in a feeder vessel from Colombo. But due to recession, this has gone down to 30 to 50 containers per voyage for almost a month now," said Amit Kamat, president, Goa Custom House Agents Association. Last year, MPT handled about 15,000 containers.
However, sources at MPT blame this decline not just on recession, but to the insufficient number of feeder vessels calling at the port, absence of four-lane highway and insufficient railway rakes for transport. "We are trying to put these things in place and once that is done, four years from now, we will have a handling capacity of about 50,000 containers," added sources.
At present with the container traffic insufficient, there is only a feeder vessel to and from Colombo, a transhipment port. No main line vessels call at MPT.
24 Feb 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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