Russian teenager's death: Cops quiz waiter
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Police on Tuesday questioned Vinay Haldankar alias Vinny a shack waiter, reportedly close to Russian teenager Elena Sukhnova, 19, whose
mutilated body was found on the railway tracks about 3.5 kms north of Thivim on Friday.
Vinay was missing since Elena's death and was picked up on Tuesday morning from Calangute. Elena, who had gone missing on an earlier instance, had told the Calangute police that she had been touring with Vinay and was in love with him.
"He is being interrogated along with two others. We neither concede nor rule out his involvement in the crime," a senior police official stated.
Police are also on the look out for another waiter, Vir Singh, from Himachal Pradesh, who was asked to quit his job as he was friendly with Elena. He had reportedly left Goa on May 6.
13 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Russian consulate shoots letter to CM
Russian consulate shoots letter to CM
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With mystery continuing to surround the death of Russian teenager Elena Sukhonova, whose mutilated body was found on railway tracks in the state on Friday morning, the Russian authorities have now written to chief minister Digambar Kamat to "take the course of investigation under your personal control".
In his letter to the chief minister dated May 11, consul general Alexander V Mantytsky from the Russian consultate in Mumbai said that the case has already drawn the attention of official authorities in Russia as well as that of Russian nationals in Russia and India.
"The consul general requests your excellency to take the course of investigation under your personal control and give instructions to carry out investigation at the earliest and keep the consul general well-informed on the above matter," the letter added.
Vikram Varma, the advocate authorized by the Russian consul general to take necessary action in connection with the investigation of the unnatural death of the 19-year-old Elena Sukhonova, while speaking to TOI said, "The Russian authorities are concerned about the death of Sukhonova. The matter is being monitored at the highest level by Russian authorities at Mumbai and also at Delhi."
"Having visited the scene where Sukhonova's mutilated body was found, the accident theory doesn't seem conclusive.
"There are some unanswered questions that we have raised with the investigating team and we indeed have confidence that the investigating team will look into it"," Varma said.
However, the lawyer refused to elaborate on what exactly the unaswered questions were.
The Russian authorities, who had also made a request with the superintendent of police (North) on April 9 for the deceased Sukhonova's passport and other identity documents, panchanama, photographs of the deceased, besides a copy of the first information report (FIR) and the postmortem report are still awaiting the same from the police.
13 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With mystery continuing to surround the death of Russian teenager Elena Sukhonova, whose mutilated body was found on railway tracks in the state on Friday morning, the Russian authorities have now written to chief minister Digambar Kamat to "take the course of investigation under your personal control".
In his letter to the chief minister dated May 11, consul general Alexander V Mantytsky from the Russian consultate in Mumbai said that the case has already drawn the attention of official authorities in Russia as well as that of Russian nationals in Russia and India.
"The consul general requests your excellency to take the course of investigation under your personal control and give instructions to carry out investigation at the earliest and keep the consul general well-informed on the above matter," the letter added.
Vikram Varma, the advocate authorized by the Russian consul general to take necessary action in connection with the investigation of the unnatural death of the 19-year-old Elena Sukhonova, while speaking to TOI said, "The Russian authorities are concerned about the death of Sukhonova. The matter is being monitored at the highest level by Russian authorities at Mumbai and also at Delhi."
"Having visited the scene where Sukhonova's mutilated body was found, the accident theory doesn't seem conclusive.
"There are some unanswered questions that we have raised with the investigating team and we indeed have confidence that the investigating team will look into it"," Varma said.
However, the lawyer refused to elaborate on what exactly the unaswered questions were.
The Russian authorities, who had also made a request with the superintendent of police (North) on April 9 for the deceased Sukhonova's passport and other identity documents, panchanama, photographs of the deceased, besides a copy of the first information report (FIR) and the postmortem report are still awaiting the same from the police.
13 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
'Blunt force caused death of Russian girl'
'Blunt force caused death of Russian girl'
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The postmortem report of the 19-year-old Russian girl, Elena Sukhonova, whose mutilated body was found on the railway tracks at Tivim, states that she died "as a result of blunt force impact by object or surface consequent to run over by a railway rolling stock".
Railway officials continued to rule out the police's rail accident' theory saying that chances of the girl falling from the train were bleak.
Forensic doctor A V Fenandes of the Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim in his report said that the death was "due to crushing cranio-cerebral damage, with chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries associated with separation of right upper limb and left ankle and multiple fractures to all bones as a result of blunt force impact by object or surface consequent to run over by a railway rolling stock".
Elena Sukhonova's viscera has been preserved for chemical analysis. Police sources said that her viscera will be sent for chemical analysis to detect whether she had consumed any alcoholic or narcotic substance.
The GMC has also preserved one of her molars for DNA profiling. Her body was found on the tracks by railway gangmen around 7.45am on Friday approximately 3.5 km from Tivim station.
Confirming the postmortem report, SP (North) Tony Fernandes said, "Inquiry into the case is in progress and it is too early to call it murder, accident or even suicide. We have registered a case of unnatural death'."
The police have asked for details of the ticket collectors of the Mangla Express and Netravati Express, and the passengers who boarded the two trains at the Tivim railway station. "There were some passengers who boarded the two trains at the Tivim railway station on that day," said police sources.
Police sources added that perhaps when Elena slipped, she may have clung to the handle of the train and that her left ankle could have got entangled in the wheel. However, railway authorities disputed the police theory.
"People falling from the train will not come directly under the wheels as there are steps below the door. If you were hanging on the door when the train was moving in the forward direction, then your legs would have come under the wheels and not the hands, head and the rest of the body," said Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) PRO Baban Ghatge.
Ghatge also said that their records don't show a Russian having bought a ticket to travel to Mumbai from Tivim or any other station in Goa.
"None of our railway staff at Tivim station saw her at the station in the early hours of May 8. There were very few passengers early in the morning and even the shops were closed. There were three railway staff on duty that night," he added.
Police investigations had revealed that she was dropped at the Tivim railway station by a yellow cab driver at around 3am on May 8 and that she had mentioned to the driver that she wanted to go to Mumbai.
From the evidence available, it appears that she might have travelled either on the Mangala Express that left Tivim at 5.02am or the Netravati Express that left at 7.09 am. And, somehow she might fallen from the train when she was travelling'.
Incidentally, a local boy whom the girl befriended, is absconding and both the Calangute and Mapusa police have been hunting for him.
Incidentally, Elena had told the Calangute police that she wanted to stay in Goa as she was in love with Vinay alias Vinny.
May 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The postmortem report of the 19-year-old Russian girl, Elena Sukhonova, whose mutilated body was found on the railway tracks at Tivim, states that she died "as a result of blunt force impact by object or surface consequent to run over by a railway rolling stock".
Railway officials continued to rule out the police's rail accident' theory saying that chances of the girl falling from the train were bleak.
Forensic doctor A V Fenandes of the Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim in his report said that the death was "due to crushing cranio-cerebral damage, with chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries associated with separation of right upper limb and left ankle and multiple fractures to all bones as a result of blunt force impact by object or surface consequent to run over by a railway rolling stock".
Elena Sukhonova's viscera has been preserved for chemical analysis. Police sources said that her viscera will be sent for chemical analysis to detect whether she had consumed any alcoholic or narcotic substance.
The GMC has also preserved one of her molars for DNA profiling. Her body was found on the tracks by railway gangmen around 7.45am on Friday approximately 3.5 km from Tivim station.
Confirming the postmortem report, SP (North) Tony Fernandes said, "Inquiry into the case is in progress and it is too early to call it murder, accident or even suicide. We have registered a case of unnatural death'."
The police have asked for details of the ticket collectors of the Mangla Express and Netravati Express, and the passengers who boarded the two trains at the Tivim railway station. "There were some passengers who boarded the two trains at the Tivim railway station on that day," said police sources.
Police sources added that perhaps when Elena slipped, she may have clung to the handle of the train and that her left ankle could have got entangled in the wheel. However, railway authorities disputed the police theory.
"People falling from the train will not come directly under the wheels as there are steps below the door. If you were hanging on the door when the train was moving in the forward direction, then your legs would have come under the wheels and not the hands, head and the rest of the body," said Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) PRO Baban Ghatge.
Ghatge also said that their records don't show a Russian having bought a ticket to travel to Mumbai from Tivim or any other station in Goa.
"None of our railway staff at Tivim station saw her at the station in the early hours of May 8. There were very few passengers early in the morning and even the shops were closed. There were three railway staff on duty that night," he added.
Police investigations had revealed that she was dropped at the Tivim railway station by a yellow cab driver at around 3am on May 8 and that she had mentioned to the driver that she wanted to go to Mumbai.
From the evidence available, it appears that she might have travelled either on the Mangala Express that left Tivim at 5.02am or the Netravati Express that left at 7.09 am. And, somehow she might fallen from the train when she was travelling'.
Incidentally, a local boy whom the girl befriended, is absconding and both the Calangute and Mapusa police have been hunting for him.
Incidentally, Elena had told the Calangute police that she wanted to stay in Goa as she was in love with Vinay alias Vinny.
May 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Major films girl in nude, arrested
Army Major films girl in nude, arrested
TNN
PANAJI: Panaji police arrested an army major on Monday for outraging the modesty of a 19-year-old Mumbai college student by filming her in the nude and using the footage to blackmail her.
Panaji police said that major Tarun Singh, 27, from New Delhi, presently posted at Corps Signal, Srinagar, filmed the 19-year-old girl who was on vacation along with her mother and aunt and staying in the same city hotel as Singh.
Singh, a bachelor, was on a holiday with his family — parents and sister — and the family had checked into a room adjacent to the victim's on May 9.
According to the police, at around 4.30 pm on May 9, Singh, from his room balcony leant over and dislodging the bathroom ventilator of the girl's room filmed her nude on his cellphone. "The girl got suspicious and informed her mother, but they didn't find anything. However, they received a call from a male on the room intercom at 1.30 am on May 10," police sources said.
The girl's mother answered the phone and the caller told the mother about possessing video of the girl in the nude and asked to meet her. The mother, however, declined and said that they would meet and discuss the situation in the morning.
"In the morning, when they opened the door, they found a note stating that the writer of the note had the girl's nude video and if she didn't meet him by 10 am on May 11, he would upload the footage on the internet," police sources said. The note had an email address for the girl to contact him.
On the same day the accused made two calls on the room intercom. While he didn't speak the first time as the mother received the call, the second time when the girl answered, he again threatened her, police sources said.
"Upset, the girl filed a police complaint on Sunday," police sources said.
A police team led by Panaji PI N Raposo searched the hotel and zeroed in on the army officer. "On checking his laptop we found the girl's video stored in it. The accused admitted to transferring the clip from his mobile to the laptop," added police sources. They have attached both the mobile and the laptop.
May 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Panaji police arrested an army major on Monday for outraging the modesty of a 19-year-old Mumbai college student by filming her in the nude and using the footage to blackmail her.
Panaji police said that major Tarun Singh, 27, from New Delhi, presently posted at Corps Signal, Srinagar, filmed the 19-year-old girl who was on vacation along with her mother and aunt and staying in the same city hotel as Singh.
Singh, a bachelor, was on a holiday with his family — parents and sister — and the family had checked into a room adjacent to the victim's on May 9.
According to the police, at around 4.30 pm on May 9, Singh, from his room balcony leant over and dislodging the bathroom ventilator of the girl's room filmed her nude on his cellphone. "The girl got suspicious and informed her mother, but they didn't find anything. However, they received a call from a male on the room intercom at 1.30 am on May 10," police sources said.
The girl's mother answered the phone and the caller told the mother about possessing video of the girl in the nude and asked to meet her. The mother, however, declined and said that they would meet and discuss the situation in the morning.
"In the morning, when they opened the door, they found a note stating that the writer of the note had the girl's nude video and if she didn't meet him by 10 am on May 11, he would upload the footage on the internet," police sources said. The note had an email address for the girl to contact him.
On the same day the accused made two calls on the room intercom. While he didn't speak the first time as the mother received the call, the second time when the girl answered, he again threatened her, police sources said.
"Upset, the girl filed a police complaint on Sunday," police sources said.
A police team led by Panaji PI N Raposo searched the hotel and zeroed in on the army officer. "On checking his laptop we found the girl's video stored in it. The accused admitted to transferring the clip from his mobile to the laptop," added police sources. They have attached both the mobile and the laptop.
May 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Man dies after night out dancing
Man dies after night out dancing
TNN
PANAJI: A 34-year-old man danced himself to death at his Ukrainian girlfriend's house at Siolim on Sunday morning.
Anjuna police said that David Fernandes of Arpora, owner of the house, said that at 1 pm the body of Ali Merchant, resident of Bandra, Mumbai was found in the rented house of his 32-year-old Ukrainian girlfriend, who is a professional dancer.
Investigations revealed that Merchant was working as a project manager for builder Sumeet Chopra in Sangolda.
Police sources said that on Saturday, Merchant along with his girlfriend were seen at a popular night club till about 2 am. He then left the night club, went to the room and slept.
"At about 6 am, he went to his girlfriend's room with a liquor bottle and from 6 to 8 am they danced in the room. They then went to sleep in separate rooms. Later at 1 pm as he was not picking up his mobile phone, which was constantly ringing, she tried to wake him up, but he didn't move," said police sources. She called for the ambulance service, who on arrival declared Merchant dead.
Police said that the deceased was a habitual alcoholic and there was no injury on his body. A case of unnatural death has been registered and the body has been sent for a post-mortem.
May 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: A 34-year-old man danced himself to death at his Ukrainian girlfriend's house at Siolim on Sunday morning.
Anjuna police said that David Fernandes of Arpora, owner of the house, said that at 1 pm the body of Ali Merchant, resident of Bandra, Mumbai was found in the rented house of his 32-year-old Ukrainian girlfriend, who is a professional dancer.
Investigations revealed that Merchant was working as a project manager for builder Sumeet Chopra in Sangolda.
Police sources said that on Saturday, Merchant along with his girlfriend were seen at a popular night club till about 2 am. He then left the night club, went to the room and slept.
"At about 6 am, he went to his girlfriend's room with a liquor bottle and from 6 to 8 am they danced in the room. They then went to sleep in separate rooms. Later at 1 pm as he was not picking up his mobile phone, which was constantly ringing, she tried to wake him up, but he didn't move," said police sources. She called for the ambulance service, who on arrival declared Merchant dead.
Police said that the deceased was a habitual alcoholic and there was no injury on his body. A case of unnatural death has been registered and the body has been sent for a post-mortem.
May 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Monday, May 11, 2009
Now, love angle to Russian girl's death
Now, love angle to Russian girl's death
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The 19-year-old Russian girl, whose mutilated body was found on the railway tracks in Goa, didn’t want to leave the state as she had
fallen in love.
Police sources told TOI that Elena Sukhonova had said this in a statement to the cops on May 6. According to the statement, Elena was in love with a boy named Vinay alias Vinny, working as a waiter at a shack on the Baga beach.
However, when told of this, the shack owner expressed surprise. He said, “Vinay left the job a month and a half back. He used to come to meet us sometimes. The girl must have come to the shack twice but I don’t think they were in love.” Elena’s body was found by railway gangmen at around 7.45 am on Friday about 3.5 kms north of Thivim railway station.
Elena’s statement was recorded by the Calangute police after the general manager of a hotel at Baga-Calangute had lodged a missing complaint on May 5 stating that Elena, whose tourist visa was to expire on July 1, 2009, and staying in the hotel and had gone missing from around 2 am on May 3.
In the complaint, the resort’s GM also said the Russian teenager had checked into the hotel on April 19 and was to check out on May 3. But on the day of the departure, she was not in the room, though her luggage and ticket were there. Elena, the GM said, had disappeared with the room key.
The hotel GM told TOI, “A hotel security guard spotted her early morning at 1.30 am on May 6 near our resort. We persuaded her to come to the hotel and also informed the police. She told the police that she was staying in a guest house. We asked her to return the room key and the police asked her to stay in our resort and recorded her statement, after which she left.”
The resort staff said that the teenager loved to party late at night. She had also dated a 22-year-old waiter from Himachal Pradesh, Bir Singh. However, when the hotel authorities came to know about it on April 24, Bir was asked to resign. “Bir left Goa on May 6 and is now at Himachal Pradesh,” police sources said.
Meanwhile, the police refused to comment on the mutilated body, citing the election code of conduct.
A post-mortem is expected to be conducted soon. “We are waiting for a representative from the Russian consulate to come,” said a doctor from the Goa medical college and hospital.
KR officials refute cops’ argument
Later in an “appeal” released to the media, the police said, “Investigation revealed that she was dropped at Thivim railway station by a yellow cab at about 3 am on May 8 and she had mentioned to the driver that she wanted to go to Mumbai. From available evidence it appears that she might have travelled either on Mangala Express which left Thivim at 5.02 am or Netravati Express which left at 7.09 am and ‘somehow fallen from the train while she was travelling’.”
However, the police argument of Elena having fallen from the train is disputed by Konkan Railway officials. A railway engineer said, “A person falling on the tracks from a running train and getting killed is next to impossible. If a person slips and falls from the train the body gets entangled in the wheel and then can be pushed into the tracks, but this is rare. Generally a person who slips or is pushed falls away from the tracks and not on the tracks.”
Calangute police sources also said that in her statement, Elena said that after leaving the resort she went to Anjuna and was staying at another place. However, according to the guest house register and its staff Elena checked into the hotel room at 8 pm on May 6 and was to check out at 10 am on May 8. She had also paid the rent for two days in Indian currency.
The guest house staff added, “On May 7 at 10 pm she left with a handbag and kept her luggage in the room. She also took the room key with her.” Police sources said that later she was spotted at a popular night club in Baga till the wee hours of May 8 and she was there with a 39-year-old Russian
May 11,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: The 19-year-old Russian girl, whose mutilated body was found on the railway tracks in Goa, didn’t want to leave the state as she had
fallen in love.
Police sources told TOI that Elena Sukhonova had said this in a statement to the cops on May 6. According to the statement, Elena was in love with a boy named Vinay alias Vinny, working as a waiter at a shack on the Baga beach.
However, when told of this, the shack owner expressed surprise. He said, “Vinay left the job a month and a half back. He used to come to meet us sometimes. The girl must have come to the shack twice but I don’t think they were in love.” Elena’s body was found by railway gangmen at around 7.45 am on Friday about 3.5 kms north of Thivim railway station.
Elena’s statement was recorded by the Calangute police after the general manager of a hotel at Baga-Calangute had lodged a missing complaint on May 5 stating that Elena, whose tourist visa was to expire on July 1, 2009, and staying in the hotel and had gone missing from around 2 am on May 3.
In the complaint, the resort’s GM also said the Russian teenager had checked into the hotel on April 19 and was to check out on May 3. But on the day of the departure, she was not in the room, though her luggage and ticket were there. Elena, the GM said, had disappeared with the room key.
The hotel GM told TOI, “A hotel security guard spotted her early morning at 1.30 am on May 6 near our resort. We persuaded her to come to the hotel and also informed the police. She told the police that she was staying in a guest house. We asked her to return the room key and the police asked her to stay in our resort and recorded her statement, after which she left.”
The resort staff said that the teenager loved to party late at night. She had also dated a 22-year-old waiter from Himachal Pradesh, Bir Singh. However, when the hotel authorities came to know about it on April 24, Bir was asked to resign. “Bir left Goa on May 6 and is now at Himachal Pradesh,” police sources said.
Meanwhile, the police refused to comment on the mutilated body, citing the election code of conduct.
A post-mortem is expected to be conducted soon. “We are waiting for a representative from the Russian consulate to come,” said a doctor from the Goa medical college and hospital.
KR officials refute cops’ argument
Later in an “appeal” released to the media, the police said, “Investigation revealed that she was dropped at Thivim railway station by a yellow cab at about 3 am on May 8 and she had mentioned to the driver that she wanted to go to Mumbai. From available evidence it appears that she might have travelled either on Mangala Express which left Thivim at 5.02 am or Netravati Express which left at 7.09 am and ‘somehow fallen from the train while she was travelling’.”
However, the police argument of Elena having fallen from the train is disputed by Konkan Railway officials. A railway engineer said, “A person falling on the tracks from a running train and getting killed is next to impossible. If a person slips and falls from the train the body gets entangled in the wheel and then can be pushed into the tracks, but this is rare. Generally a person who slips or is pushed falls away from the tracks and not on the tracks.”
Calangute police sources also said that in her statement, Elena said that after leaving the resort she went to Anjuna and was staying at another place. However, according to the guest house register and its staff Elena checked into the hotel room at 8 pm on May 6 and was to check out at 10 am on May 8. She had also paid the rent for two days in Indian currency.
The guest house staff added, “On May 7 at 10 pm she left with a handbag and kept her luggage in the room. She also took the room key with her.” Police sources said that later she was spotted at a popular night club in Baga till the wee hours of May 8 and she was there with a 39-year-old Russian
May 11,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Only 39% sex workers know about HIV prevention: Study
Only 39% sex workers know about HIV prevention: Study
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: After the demolition of the Baina red light area in 2004, only one in five female sex workers in the state have had access to the free
condoms provided by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). This number should have been close to 80% as envisaged under the national AIDS control programme. Further, with sex workers in Goa now widely dispersed, only 38.7 % have had exposure to HIV prevention methods while 30.7 % have no knowledge of the disease.
Moreover, only 21% female sex workers (FSWs) have been able to avail of free condoms from the government or NGO. While 15.8% don't use condoms, another 29.7% were forced to indulge in sexual activity sans any protection. In a majority of cases, however, customers tend to bring condoms to the FSW, reveals a study titled, "The burden and determinants of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in a population based sample of female sex workers in Goa".
Conducted by two NGOs, namely Sangath and Positive People, it is published in the journal, Sexually Transmitted Infections' in 2009.
NACO classifies FSWs in the high risk group and, to ensure an overall reduction in the epidemic, their targeted interventions are aimed to effect a behavioural change through awareness. "Youth and illiteracy, indebtedness and support of dependents, migrant status and exposure to violence, limited access to HIV prevention and sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment services, contribute to the vulnerability of sex workers," said Maryam Shahmanesh, who is part of the study.
The Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) project director Pradeep Padwal said that the mapping of areas where the "needy" are placed is in progress. "We have to identify where the needy are or, conversely, they will have to approach places where we are based. We are trying our best to reach the needy," he said.
However, this is easier said than done. "Sex workers have spread across the state. NGOs don't have access to them and they don't want to avail of government facilities for the fear of being identified or stigmatized," said Arun Pandey of Arz, an NGO which was used to work with trafficked victims at Baina.
The study comprises a sample of 326 female sex workers in the state. It reveals that infections were common with a 25.7% prevalence of HIV and 22.5% prevalence of bacterial STIs in sex workers. A majority of the FSWs studied are in the age group of 21 and 25. While most were from Karnataka, there were about 54 from Goa and 37 from Andhra Pradesh selected for the study.
Sex workers are widely dispersed; practising in 557 different lodges, establishments and other areas. While 57.8 % resort to bar, lodge or brothel-based sex work, there are about 28% home-based sex workers and 22.7% street-based sex workers in Goa after the demolition of the Baina red light area. About 20.6 %, FSWs started young, at the age of 16, the study added.
8 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: After the demolition of the Baina red light area in 2004, only one in five female sex workers in the state have had access to the free
condoms provided by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). This number should have been close to 80% as envisaged under the national AIDS control programme. Further, with sex workers in Goa now widely dispersed, only 38.7 % have had exposure to HIV prevention methods while 30.7 % have no knowledge of the disease.
Moreover, only 21% female sex workers (FSWs) have been able to avail of free condoms from the government or NGO. While 15.8% don't use condoms, another 29.7% were forced to indulge in sexual activity sans any protection. In a majority of cases, however, customers tend to bring condoms to the FSW, reveals a study titled, "The burden and determinants of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in a population based sample of female sex workers in Goa".
Conducted by two NGOs, namely Sangath and Positive People, it is published in the journal, Sexually Transmitted Infections' in 2009.
NACO classifies FSWs in the high risk group and, to ensure an overall reduction in the epidemic, their targeted interventions are aimed to effect a behavioural change through awareness. "Youth and illiteracy, indebtedness and support of dependents, migrant status and exposure to violence, limited access to HIV prevention and sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment services, contribute to the vulnerability of sex workers," said Maryam Shahmanesh, who is part of the study.
The Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) project director Pradeep Padwal said that the mapping of areas where the "needy" are placed is in progress. "We have to identify where the needy are or, conversely, they will have to approach places where we are based. We are trying our best to reach the needy," he said.
However, this is easier said than done. "Sex workers have spread across the state. NGOs don't have access to them and they don't want to avail of government facilities for the fear of being identified or stigmatized," said Arun Pandey of Arz, an NGO which was used to work with trafficked victims at Baina.
The study comprises a sample of 326 female sex workers in the state. It reveals that infections were common with a 25.7% prevalence of HIV and 22.5% prevalence of bacterial STIs in sex workers. A majority of the FSWs studied are in the age group of 21 and 25. While most were from Karnataka, there were about 54 from Goa and 37 from Andhra Pradesh selected for the study.
Sex workers are widely dispersed; practising in 557 different lodges, establishments and other areas. While 57.8 % resort to bar, lodge or brothel-based sex work, there are about 28% home-based sex workers and 22.7% street-based sex workers in Goa after the demolition of the Baina red light area. About 20.6 %, FSWs started young, at the age of 16, the study added.
8 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Rare breed of vulture spotted in Goa after eight years
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
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
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
.
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
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