A YEAR FULL OF SHAMS FOR LAW AND ORDER IN GOA

PANJIM: In the run up to the golden jubilee celebration of its liberation from Portuguese rule, Goa had its share of shame on law and order front.

While the year started with one of the biggest arrest in form of International drug dealer David Driham alias Dudu, the year ended with a police officer being awarded with Chief Minister’s gold medal on Liberation Day who ironically is alleged of having links with drug mafia.

The award to Policeman Chandrakant Salgaonkar has not been taken in good taste with political parties alleging Government of shielding drug dealers. BJP spokesman Govind Parvatkar even said that it speaks volumes of ‘the Congress-led Government’s character’.

After much bad press for the goof up in handling British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling death case in 2008, the state saw police department stooping to the lowest level.

Seven policemen were arrested after their alleged involvement in selling drugs to Israeli drug peddler Yaniv Benaim alias Atala was exposed by Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse through her tapes shot on a spy camera, in February 2010.

Atala became household name within few days as one after another policemen including Police Inspector Ashish Shirodkar went to jail in the month of March.

Suspended police officials - inspector Ashish Shirodkar, sub-inspector Punaji Gawas, head constable Shaikh Hussain and constables Saish Pokle, Sanjay Parab, Sandeep Parab and Ramchandra Kankonkar are facing charges of corruption and conspiracy in the drugs case.

The Home Department plunged into shame as it was unearthed that over 200 kg charas stored in highly protected police locker went missing. Crime Branch was assigned the job to investigate this case, which was of high-profile nature as Atala was allegedly connected to Home Minister Ravi Naik’s son Roy.

Much to the disgust of police force, Crime Branch too left so many loopholes in the entire case that Atala managed to get a bail and jump it too and all the seven policemen also breathed freedom.

The Bombay High Court at Goa passed severe strictures on the state police for handling the case ineffectively. But none of the police officers were penalised and the Home Ministry maintained that they have sought Interpol’s assistant to get Atala back in India.

The shame continued for the Crime Branch throughout the year when they again goofed up in investigating death of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado, friend of former Tourism Minister Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco.

Although police arrested Pacheco and made him to spend a fortnight behind bars, nothing seems to have worked for the investigation of this case. Crime Branch officials are yet to recover basic things like Nadia’s mobile and laptop, which they claim are missing.

Nadia had died a fortnight after consuming poison at her Fatorda residence in May 29, 2010. Her closeness to Pacheco created huge controversy and the minister had to step down from Digambar Kamat cabinet.

The minister is said to have spend several crores for her treatment at Goa, Mumbai and Chennai hospitals. The expense also included chartered-ambulance to transport the lady from one hospital to another before she finally succumbed at Chennai Apollo.

Minister’s OSD Lyndon Monteiro, Nadia’s mother Sonia and her brothers also came under police scanner for allegedly destroying certain evidences linked to the death.

The year started with the shameful news of nine-year-old Russian girl being sexually abused at Arambol beach by two outsiders from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The incident which occurred on January 26 reminded the world about Scarlet’s death whose bruised semi-nude corpse was found on Anjuna shore on February 18, 2008.

In case of the rape on nine-year-old Russian girl, police were prompt enough to prosecute both the accused. But Goa Children’s Court released them on benefit of doubt. Again, a question mark was raised on the kind of investigation; Goa Police have done in this case.

Throughout the year, South Goa-based politician John Fernandes remained behind bars after he was arrested in December 2009 for raping a Russian girl.

His frequent bail pleas stood rejected by the court, which has recently registered statement of the victim, who had gone to Russia to attend to her mother and came back to cooperate with the Court proceedings.
The major relief for the entire year was arrest of Dudu. The drug lord was arrested with cocktail of narcotics worth over Rs three lakh at Anjuna.

Dudu’s arrest had also exposed the nexus between drug peddlers and policemen but state police failed to follow up the matter. It also exposed how few journalists were on a ‘pay role’ of this drug peddler.

The Israeli drug baron remains to be behind bars in the narcotics case. He has been sentenced to mere two-day imprisonment for illegally staying in Goa while police have chargesheeted him under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The State Police also got a beating when serial killer Mahanand Naik who has been prosecuted in 18 cases of rapes, murders and robberies was acquitted in seven cases, this year.

He has however been sentenced to seven years imprisonment in the rape of his wife’s 23-year-old friend for three years between 2006 and 2009. Naik was arrested in April 2009 in a case of rape of his wife’s 23-year-old friend after which he allegedly confessed to a series of offenses from 1994 to 2009.

2010 A TOUGH YEAR FOR GOA POLICE

PANJIM: 2010 proved to be a year with more ‘downs’ than ‘ups’ for the state police.  The big blow came in the form of a video tape uploaded on ‘Youtube’ which exposed alleged links between drug dealers and personnel who had served in the Anti-Narcotics Cell.

Six policemen attached to it were then suspended for alleged nexus with the drug peddlers.

The Superintendent of Police, ANC, Mr Vinu Bansal, claimed to have restored the public faith and respect after arresting some big names in the drug trade like Dravid Draham alias Dudu, Sadanand Chimulkar alias Bhui and Yaniv Benaim alias Atala by the Crime Branch.

Finally, the SP preferred to move out of the state for the reasons better known to him.

The year that saw the Crime Branch arresting the former tourism minister, Mr Francis Xavier Pacheco alias Mickky for his alleged role in the Nadia Torrado murder case, who died after consuming rattol, also saw Ajay Kaushal, an NRI dying mysteriously in Sada sub-jail in Vasco.

The police inspector from Calangute Mr Raposo was shunted to Goa Reserve Police for not adhering to the laid norms while raiding premises and taking into custody around 30 beauticians linked to the beauty parlours in Anjuna, Calangute and Porvorim on suspicion of being involved in a flesh trade. The beauticians hailed from Nagaland and Manipur

The police inspector from Crime Branch, Ms Sunita Sawant proved to be smarter than her counterparts and sealed the premises, allegedly used for prostitution and brought the pimps to book.

The Panjim police inspector, Mr Sandesh Chodankar bust some gangs of motorcycle thieves and recovered some stolen motorcycles from their possession and returned them to their owners after completing the necessary formalities.

A constable attached to the Foreigners’ Registration Office was suspended after two foreigners lodged a complaint with the Director General of Police, Mr Bhim Sain Bassi, accusing him of taking Rs 80,000 under the pretext of paying it to an advocate for extension of visa.

The Porvorim police did a commendable job by arresting a gang of robbers and recovering stolen goods from their possession before the victim could lodge a complaint in this direction.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr Atmaram Deshpande, was served with a memo for speaking to the press as a PRO. The dual police inspector strategy at the Panjim town police station and some other police stations failed to yield results — the police inspector, Mr Francisco Corte who was posted at the Panjim police station had to be transferred to Old Goa.

The director of animal husbandry, P K Patidar was trapped red- handed for taking bribe of Rs 15,000 from a grass supplier Vivekanand Naik by the vigilance director, Mr Bosco George but till date no action has been initiated in the case.

NCP SPEAKER WANTS MICKKY TO HEAD NCP IN GOA

PANJIM: Giving clear indications of disqualifying its two defiant MLAs - Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza and Tourism Minister, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar - the Nationalist Congress Party has sent a letter to the Speaker of the Goa legislative assembly, Mr Pratapsingh Rane requesting him to replace Mr D’Souza with the Benaulim MLA, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco alias Mickky as the leader of the NCP’s legislative wing in the House.

The letter has further requested the Speaker to remove another party MLA, Mr Halarnkar as the party whip. The communication has come from the NCP Headquarters in New Delhi.

It is also learnt from reliable sources that the national president of the NCP, Mr Sharad Pawar telephonically spoke to Mr Rane and informed him about the letter. It is further learnt that Mr Pawar has taken the entire issue very seriously and has maintained that deciding the NCP MLAs for their induction in the state cabinet is the internal matter of the NCP, and no one outside the party should take decisions for the NCP.

It may be recalled that the All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of Goa desk of the party, Mr B K Hariprasad had recently told the media that the induction of Mr Pacheco in the cabinet could spell danger for the Congress-led state government and hence it would be wiser to maintain status quo as far as ministers in the state government are involved.

The statement had come from Mr Hariprasad in spite of the fact that Mr Pawar had personally requested the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat to re-induct Mr Pacheco in his cabinet.

The Revenue Minister, said that he does not want to react to the development at this point of time. “No Comments,” he added.

The Tourism Minister, told this daily that the party must have sent the letter to the Speaker after thoroughly studying all the aspects of the Constitution. “The matter is now in the jurisdiction of the Speaker,” he said, adding that he would rather wait and watch the further developments.

The former speaker and the Aldona MLA, Mr Dayanand Narvekar, speaking about the powers of the Speaker in this context said that it appears to be a step by the NCP towards disqualifying its two MLAs. “It is a matter of time before NCP files a disqualification petition before the Speaker to disqualify the two MLAs, now that the assembly has been convened next month,” he observed, stating that the case would be similar to that wherein a disqualification petition was moved against the Dhavalikar brothers by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.

“It is the political party and not MLAs who give the letter to the Governor as regards its support to the government,” Mr Narvekar said, adding that the party always proves to be powerful in such cases. “Personally, I feel that MLAs, on ethical grounds should not go against their party after reaping benefits from the party,” he opined.

Meanwhile, the state NCP spokesperson, Mr Trojano D’Mello has written a letter to the state president of the party, Mr Surendra Sirsat to convene a special meeting of the state executive of the party for discussing the political uncertainty in Goa.

The letter observes that the state wing of the NCP has kept the members of the state executive of the party in darkness as regards many things. “The NCP should also take a stand on various issues such as illegal casinos in the state, drug mafia, expansion of the national highways running through Goa and Regional Plan 2021,” it has added.

“The recent political developments in Goa have made their outcome a prestige issue for the national NCP president, Mr Sharad Pawar as well as senior party leader, Mr Praful Patel,” the letter maintained, alleging that wrong feedback given by the state NCP to Mr Pawar has resulted in wrong handling of the entire issue. The letter concluded that the party workers of the NCP are in a confused state and need to be explained the exact situation in the state unit of the party.

WOMAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS RI FOR PROSTITUTION

PANJIM: Goa Children’s Court today sentenced one Ranjana Pathak to 7 years rigorous imprisonment for trafficking a minor girl from Bangladesh and pushing her into prostitution in 2004.

The accused has also been asked to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 to the victim and in default shall undergo imprisonment for one year. The victim girl was of 14 years, when she was brought from Bangladesh to India by one Aarti alias Parveen and her husband Jitu through illegal channel. The victim was accompanied by two more girls from Bangladesh.

In a complaint to the Panjim police, the victim had said that Aarti had induced her to come to Mumbai on a false inducement to provide job in Dubai. For the said purpose, Aarti had collected Rs 60,000 from the victim’s father.

“I was later handed over to one Rekha in Mumbai, where I was placed under illegal confinement,” the statement of the victim reads. The victim was then taken to Ahmedabad and was forcibly introduced into prostitution. At Ahmedabad the victim was kept in the house of the accused, where she was assaulted by the accused and her family members.

The victim informed court that Pathak forced her to have sexual intercourse with male customers against her wish and will. The victim was rescued by Panjim Police in 2006, when she was in Goa with Pathak and her assistant.

Accordingly, the case was registered before Goa Children’s Court on November 3, 2006. The accused was in custody from September 11 to October 13, 2006, before she was granted anticipatory bail.

Police then took the custody of the accused on December 28, 2010.

The accused, 40 years old in her statement has admitted that the victim had stayed with her in Ahmedabad but as a guest. She however, said that she never forced the victim into prostitution and the allegations made by the victim are false.

Children’s Court President P V Sawaikar has charged the accused for offence under Sec 323 of IPC, Sec 342 read with 34 of IPC, Sec 366-A of IPC, Sec 8 of Goa Children’s Act 2003 and Sec 4 and 5 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

MONSERRATE ANNOUNCES HIS 30 MEMBER PANEL

PANJIM: The Education Minister and the Taleigao MLA, Mr Atanasio Monserrate, on Friday, announced his 30-member panel for the forthcoming election to the Corporation of the City of Panjim, with almost all the ruling-side councillors given candidature.
The details as regards the reservation of some city wards are yet to be announced for the CCP poll, which is expected to take place in the first fortnight of March. The election will be held for the 30 wards of the capital city.
The 30 candidates are Ms Carolina Po, Mr Tony Rodrigues, Mr Yatin Parekh, Mr Uday Madkaikar, Mr Rudresh Chodankar, Mr Mangaldas Naik, Ms Regina Almeida, Ms Anjali Naik, Mr Bento Lorena, Mr Prasad Amonkar, Mr Kabir Pinto Makhija, Mr Domnic Rodrigues, Dr Tosha Kurade, Ms Vanita Fernandes, Ms Vivina Nasnodkar, Mr Gangaram Kale, Mr Hema Chopdekar, Mr Suraj Kandolkar, Mr Milind Shirodkar, Ms Sujata Haldankar, Ms Ana Lobo, Mr Nazareth Cabral, Ms Margarida Coelho, Mr Rupesh Shirgaonkar, Mr Nagesh Karishetty, Ms Mangala Karapurkar, Ms Maria Fernandes, Ms Manda Shetye, Ms Nameeta Narvekar and Mr Dennis Jorge. The panel has a doctor, an engineer and a teacher - all women candidates - in it.
Mr Nagesh Karishetty allegedly involved in the city pay parking scam finds place in the panel, while Mr Rudresh Chodankar, who fought the Monserrate panel last time, is included in the panel for the forthcoming CCP poll.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party supported panel is also taking shape. The panel is expected to be headed by the former Mayor, Mr Ashok Naik. The corruption free and scamless municipality during Mr Naik’s tenure would be the main issue of the BJP supported panel, during the election.

AIRES ASKS UNION LAW MINISTER NOT TO INAUGRATE ARBITRATION CENTRE

PANJIM: Even before the International Arbitration Centre at Goa is inaugurated next month, social activist Aires Rodrigues has written to Union law minister Veerappa Moily requesting him not to associate himself with the centre's inaugural function as it is being set up by a private trust. Moily is scheduled to inaugurate the centre in Goa on January 4, 2011.

Rodrigues said the centre is being set up by a private trust consisting of Goa Law Commission chairman Ramakant Khalap and commission members advocates Cleofato Coutinho and Mario Pinto Almeida. The fourth member of the trust is VK Agarwal, whose profession, he claims, is not disclosed in the trust deed. Agarwal was India's law secretary when Khalap was Union minister of state for law in mid-1990s and has written books on arbitration issues.

According to Rodrigues, international arbitration is being currently conducted at New Delhi by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) and the Indian Council of Dispute Resolution (ICADR) and they are both societies registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. "The proposed International Arbitration Centre at Goa will be run by a private trust that will be not be accountable to the public", Rodrigues alleged. Khalap said, "I have no comment to offer on this". (TNN)

DRIVE AGAINST BOGUS RATION CARDS

PANJIM: The civil supplies department will launch a door-to-door drive to check bogus ration cards in the state. The drive has been planned only after its preliminary exercise of asking people to surrender unauthorized cards failed to evoke a response.

Also a total of 3,200 ration cards remained unclaimed with the department during its drive to detect bogus ration cards, none were surrendered during the period set by it.

The department, in a circular in October 2010, had directed ration card holders and fair price shops possessing or using bogus cards to surrender them to taluka mamlatdars within a fortnight or face prosecution.

The department has also issued a warning in connection with a writ petition filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties before Supreme Court regarding ration quota and delay in its disbursal and other issues.

In turn, joint secretary of Union ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution of department of food and public distribution, New Delhi had directed all states to ensure surrender of bogus cards in an order dated September 1, 2010.

"However, none have surrendered their bogus ration cards while 3,200 have not turned up to claim their cards," director of civil supplies and consumer affairs, G P Pilarnekar, said.

The drive is likely to begin early next year in a bid to carry out a routine check of bogus cards and also to verify if card holders are availing rations from fair price shops. "Fair price shops often keep bogus ration cards with them and raids on these outlets can help catch the culprits," Pilarnekar added.

The government had offered those surrendering bogus cards, an exemption from prosecution under the law. But Pilarnekar explained that all 3,200 cards might not be bogus, as some genuine persons may have not collected their cards. Many persons register for ration cards to produce it as a document, but not to avail ration from fair price shops, he said.

In 2007, the department had initiated the process to re-register existing ration cards totaling 4,34,000, but many card holders had not claimed them after applying again.

The department has issued 3,59,384 families ration cards under and above poverty line (APL) category. Their population is estimated to be around 15,72,521. In all, 12,907 are classified below poverty line (BPL) for issue of cards while the population is 59,993.

OPEN LETTER TO CHURCHILL ALEMAO by Rupert Coutinho, UAE

Politicians in Goa have been so much publicised in the last 50 years that we read so many public toilets having names of some prominent politicians on their inaugration details. Are these the reasons why we have elected representatives for trivial causes or is it for a greater cause to have a better life and unique identity?

The great assuarances and promises of scrapping MOPA, providing employment to ethnic Goans, eliminating corruption, providing better health care facilites and better hospital treatments have been put aside after the elections are over and then begins a new era of promoting mega housing projects detremental to Goans, illegal mining, sidelining ethnic Goans for a votebank, no action to preserve our unique identity, misusing police machinery, no control over drug and flesh trade, exploitation, etc, etc.

And so today we have ourselves to blame for electing the same old faces who have done not much to preserve our identity and provide a better living conditions in lieu for a pittance of favours . As rightly stated by Raul Fernandes in his article in Herald, and so I would reiterate it once again ‘’There is much about our Portuguese past which works - Its systems, it mechanisms, its architecture and its heritage’’. Fifty years down the line we are still struggling to have a proper identity of our own and risk being outnumbered in the future unless something is really done to stem the rot. I was completely amazed to see the development of groups being escaled from G4 and G7 in 2007 to G10 in 2010 with confidence that they will be reelected thanks to the continuous disunity and short sightedness of majority of our own highly literate and selfish Goan electorate.

My open letter to PWD minister Churchill Alemao is instead of promoting your G7 and G10, I challenge you to get back to your basics on your highly forgotten assurance to scrap MOPA on which you got elected or come clean whether you are content with only your PWD ministry which has restored so much confidence and ostentation in you of being returned back for yet another term no matter how larger or smaller Gs you forms?

RTI ACT: PETITION FILED AGAINST GOA’S AG MR SUBODH KANTAK

PANJIM: A petition has been filed today before the Goa State Information Commission by Adv. Aires Rodrigues against Advocate General of Goa Mr. Subodh Kantak for his failure to comply with the provisions of the Right to Information Act.

Adv. Aires Rodrigues had earlier this week served a legal notice on the Advocate General giving Mr. Subodh Kantak 48 hours to comply with the Right to Information Act.

In his petition before the State Information Commission today, Adv. Aires Rodrigues has stated that though the RTI act was enacted to promote transparency and accountability and became law on 15 June 2005 that the Advocate General has not complied with the provisions of the Act for over five years.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the Advocate General is a “Public authority” as defined in section 2 (h) of the RTI Act 2005, being a constitutional authority constituted under the Constitution of India

Adv, Rodrigues has further submitted that the Advocate General as a “public authority” was required under Section 5 of the Act to designate within 100 days Public Information Officers to provide information under the Act to persons requesting the same from the Advocate General’s office.

Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that Section 4 the act required the Advocate General to publish and make public within one hundred and twenty days various information details about the Advocate General’s office.

Adv. Rodrigues in his petition has further stated that the failure to comply with the provisions of the Act for over five years was a matter of concern given that the Advocate General was the First law officer of the State.

Adv. Rodrigues has also submitted in his petition to the State Information Commission that the Advocate General was bound to comply with all the provisions of the Right to Information Act.

Stating that not complying with the RTI Act by the Advocate General was unreasonable, malafide and without reasonable cause, Adv. Rodrigues has in his petition sought that the Advocate General Mr. Subodh Kantak be penalized in terms of section 20 of the RTI Act for not complying with the provision of the Act.

MARGAO`S CANCER-MOTI DONGOR OR “MULLAH DONGOR” By N Fernandes, London

This issue at Moti Dongor or "Mullah Dongor", considering most of the inhabitants seem to have very Muslim names, is unlikely to see peace. To satisfy "Politically correct people" like Yogesh Marathe, as we are all Indians now, given all freedoms by the Freedom Fighters with one exception, that is yet to be achieved..PEACE (from crimes)...we could also call give it a subtle name of "MUTINY DONGOR".

The peace will be short-lived, as there will be scores to settle.

Revenge, will now be festering amongst the inhabitants, and will be split on Political patronage.

This will also not be "SWEET REVENGE". It will be more deadlier and deadlier day by day. From swords it will be murderous, burnings, riots & guns.

I can foresee a partial "TALIBANISATION" of this area in due course. It will surely be a "NO GO" area. All visitors or future settlers will have to have a certain type of religious orientation.

Ghettoes and slums around the world are not peaceful havens.They are hotbeds for crime.

Brazil recently experienced this is their "FAVELAS".

In the USA AND MEXICO, there is a "gang culture" that rules the roost.Weapons of choice are Guns machettes and Knives.Fists and sticks are consigned to history.

Crime in these sorts of areas, statistically, never decrease. More often, the crime figures are massaged. This has to be done as Kamat has to show he is in charge above and in control of the situation.

The death rates in the Townships of South Africa are legendary. One death is guaranteed per each calendar day. This is not a sort of "human sacrifice", for peace.

The Politicians and administrators that have blindly and deliberately created such ghettoes,for votes,election prospects and corrupt money and power,will blame this all on someone else.

Denial is a hobby amongst Politicians. Ravi Naik and Digu Kamat are a class act in this area of public deception.

Some Politicians will soon emerge stating that this criminal act, in the heart of Margao, which is considered Goa`s Economic hub is nothing but Politically Motivated. It is usually the opposition that does this. In Goa these days "POLITICAL MOTIVATED" acts are considered as an easy passport out of a festering mess and crime. Mickky Pacheco, has made and acquired a MASTERY of this excuse.

Everything and anything is Politically Motivated. If Viola, his live in partner, does not give him his daily "OATS" or serve his daily needs??!!!, it will also be considered politically motivated of the family kind.

The seeds of hatred have been sown in Moti Dongor. The flames have been lit. It is unlikely to subside....for a very long time.

Kamat and Babu Naik and their Acolytes will have to be historically held responsible for this.

Or in the infinite wisdom held by some of history’s fabricators dodgers & re-writers...blame it on the PORTUGUESE.

And also remember…Moti Dongor is not colonisation…but a “COLONY”….of some sort.

Acolytes:

ac•o•lyte n.

1. One who assists the celebrant in the performance of liturgical rites.

2. A devoted follower or attendant.

CONTROVERSIES HOGGED MICKKY PACHECO FOR MOST OF THE YEAR by Nisser Dias

As the world welcomes the new year, I would like to reminisce about some important events involving our elected representatives and officials during 2010. Topping the list is bandanna sporting MLA who has been in news for all the wrong reasons.

Every end of the year while the world readies itself to bring in the new and wring out the old, Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco seems to have attracted only controversies. To make my point clear, last December (28th Dec 2009) it was alleged that the former Tourism minister was the mastermind behind the stoning and ransacking the house of a Colva panch for producing a CD based on the lifestyle of a politician and a priest. From then on for one complete year controversies have dogged the legislator. And this week we have heard that the Congress led government has closed doors on his reinstatement as a minister.

The year started with the South Goa administration or rather the district collector G P Naik who is a crony of the politicians issuing an order in January to ban the controversial CD without even hearing it. Worse still he issued a gag order on the media particularly the electronic media of playing the CD on their channels. Subsequently the court struck down the order of the Collector terming it irrational. Infact, the ban order of the Collector helped the sales of the CD to soar.

In the same month Home minister Ravi Naik made a startling statement that drugs were not available in Goa. So illogical was the statement, given the fact that drugs and the first tourists made their entry together into Goa in the 70’s. Worse still the statement was so ill-timed when there were allegation of his son Roy Naik being the kingpin in the drug trade along the coastal belt. Subsequently the can of worms opened to reveal the involvement of police officers in the drug trade which was followed by their arrest and dismissal from office.

In the third week of January, Babush Monserrate revived the ‘Gang of 7’ namely the NCP trio, MGP duo, Vishwajeet Rane. Churchill Alemao also had talks with the G7. Chief minister Digambar Kamat took the easy way out, inducted Babush as the Education minister by dropping equally controversial minister Dayanand Narvekar. The month of January 2010 ended with the scion of the Gandhi family Rahul Gandhi visiting the state. Besides the controversy he created with his political meeting at the Goa University, he left state with food for thought for the Goan youth. He said, “You either play the game or go home. Don’t be a commentator be a player”. With this words he was urging the youth to join main stream politics.

The month of February saw Coastal Regulation Zone authorities executed High Court orders and demolished structures built in violation of the CRZ rules and regulations. While temporary structures of traditional fishermen and small encroachments of small entrepreneurs faced the axe the big fish like owners of five star hotels got away. Ironically hotel industrialist are the ones who have changed the demography of the coastal line and done much damaged to our shores.

It was also the month when Fatorda MLA sought personal details of all the students in the state studying in first to fourth standard and from tenth to12th. And the director of Education who is more of rubber stamp of the politicians willingly made it available it to him. Nothing must have happened now but one can be sure that if the BJP comes to power they will use this information to target the minorities.

In the month of March the Tourist Taxi Operators indicated how unruly lot they are. It is open secret that these clan fleece tourists left, right and centre and want to monopolize this type extortion. They do not to share the spoils with the tour operators. When a tour operator tried to take his guests for sight seeing in a coach, the tourist taxi operators blocked the bus and grabbed the gun from the waistband of the driver and threatened to shoot him, thus bringing a bad name to Goa, Goans and tourism in Goa.

During the assembly session in the month of April the Opposition headed by Manohar Parrikar floored the government on all fronts. Infact the Opposition exposed how the state treasury was losing money due to the lopsided policies of the Digambar Kamat led government. Parrikar pointed out how the exchequer was being denied crores of rupees through illegal mining with minister themselves either indulging in it or having a share in the loot. The BJP also exposed scam in the excise department and they went a step ahead to allege that CM could be involved.

Urban Development ministry headed by Joaquim Alemao was totally exposed for criminal waste of exchequer’s money. Comptroller and Auditor General Of India (CAG) in its audit report nailed the minister’s hide to the wall for lapses purportedly committed to suit his pockets. The junior Alemao has wasted crores of rupees by purchasing defunct sweeping machines, introducing untested technology to treat garbage at Sonsoddo dump, illegally building sun bay to watch sunset at Baina beach which was ordered to be demolished. Now this minister is building an air conditioning toilet in the Municipal Garden at Margao.

Personnel of Goa State Pollution Control Board was roused from their hibernation by some activist from Colva who took to streets to protest over the worsening conditioning of the Colva creek. For years now illegal restaurants which have been allowed to function from the banks of the creek have been discharging their sewage into the creek thereby polluting it. What the board has done so far is that it has only issued some show cause notices to the restaurants. As of today the degradation of the creek continues.

It was also in the month of May that the chief minister Digambar Kamat exposed his pseudo self. While telling the Goans that he works for the aam admi, he told some activists who were peacefully protesting about the marauding of Goa’s limited land mass, “I don’t depend on your votes, go ahead and do whatever you want”. However as of today he will not even get votes from the migrants at Monti Dongor because of formation of two rival groups there.

The fall of former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco from power began with the suicidal death of his friend Nadia Torrado. Police investigation revealed a sad saga of alleged sex, assault and deceit. The flamboyant Benaulim MLA tried real hard to cover up the entire issue by trying to save her life. But the almighty had other plans and young girl lost her life. This cost the arrogant MLA his ministership and also suffered detention in jail.

But while Mickky was undergoing a bad phase, Babush Monseratte managed to worm his way back into the Congress in the month of June. This Taleigao legislator had ditched Congress at the eleventh hour by filing his nomination on a regional party. It was alleged that he was instrumental in brutally assaulting youth congress for protesting about stopping of setting up of IT Habitat at Dona Paula.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

NEW YEAR PRAYER AND RESOLUTIONS by Dalia

Let us cherish the coming of the New Year as usual, year after year. Let us try to be good and content, kind to each other. If it didn't bring you joy just leave it behind, let's ring in the new year with good things in mind. It's a new year, let's give a cheer.  Pour some wine and some beer.

Looking back on the months gone by, as a new year starts and an old one ends.

We contemplate what brought us joy, we think of our loved ones and our friends. Sympathies, to our enemies. A small prayer for my beloved Goa, the future of my next generation that it may be spared from the clutches of corrupt politicians. Another small prayer, for the growth of Niz Goenkar in every Goans’ mind, to spread its message that we need to stand up against our corrupt system. That common man can live with a sigh of relief at the end of the day. Let us be brave when the burden is great, faithful when wounded by sorrow. Teach us when troubled, with patience to wait for a better tomorrow.

This was the year of Niz Goenkar, the year of Menino Fernandes and his team, reader, writers, contributors and not forgetting commentators and foes alike. Niz Goenkar has grown from the day of its inception. It has made a dent in politician’s dirt bag. It has educated a few people, Goans in general that Goa is for Goans only. Let our dear guests remain in peace with us and cherish. Not destroy and plunder.

My own New Year Resolution, to tolerate fools more gladly. I shall squeeze from the bottom of every dirty politician and stay where trouble can't find me. I shall not quit Niz Goenkar and never be afraid to comment against the plunders of Goa. I will stand up against the fools who tell us that our politicians, their families are our saviours. I will educate the crumb eaters, the hired mobs, rent a vote type of people that doing so, we only will loose Goa. I will strive for the betterment of my fellow being for the benefit of every Goenkar.

Como Vivas, um grande Ano Novo uma CADA UM de VOCÊ querido Niz Goenkar.

RESPONSE TO YOGESH MARATHE By N Fernandes, London:

Goa should be as progressive State?

**NOTE: I am mindful and aware that some commentators have remarked that replying to Yogesh Marathe is a Pointless and fruitless exercise.

I am also mindful and aware of a request by P.Cruz, for unity in the face of many evils Goa has to confront today.

In my personal opinion and evaluation and assessment, Yogesh has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate, a distorted view of history and its facts, to serve the agenda of “DARK FORCES”. My current intelligence and hunch is that he is a humble servant, fanatic and radical, of an organisation that wishes to merge Goa with Maharashtra.

He has either elected himself or been appointed by agents to come and spew utter rubbish and upset the Niz Goenkar applecart.

He uses a “carrot and stick” approach. He seems to use and exercise suspicious politeness, but below that politeness is a hidden and darker agenda.

Having read Yogesh`s response to me, I conclude that it is more than laughable as it is loaded with his personal “Historical Comedy” and interpretations of words beyond their real and true meaning.

Suggest to Yogesh that India too has committed atrocities in Kashmir, Khalistan, Assam, etc…his answer is “ this is due to anti-Indian sentiments. I suspect the Portuguese,Sikhs,Kashmiris or Goans have “no right” to have such sentiments.

His reply to my article is full of crazy contradictions.

He has chosen “Bizarre Rhetoric” instead of common-sense or diligence to argue his case and facts.

World English Dictionary

rhetoric (ˈrɛtərɪk)  — n

1. the study of the technique of using language effectively

2. the art of using speech to persuade, influence, or please; oratory

3. excessive use of ornamentation and contrivance in spoken or written discourse; bombast

4. speech or discourse that pretends to significance but lacks true meaning: all the politician says is mere rhetoric

He has chosen to wear his skateboard and skate around and justify his own versions of history. In more simplistic terms-“He beats around the bush”

I commend Yogesh`s ability to write good grammar. But the misuse of words to support his case is blatantly “Comical”. I am sure many people will agree with me that a “POND” is not the “SEA” or “OCEAN. A “motive” is not “symbolism”. One leaf (RTI) does not make a TREE”. Also, “One swallow does not make a summer”.

He is of the belief along with the FF`s that the NRP Sagres arrived in Goa uninvited, without permission, and in defiance, to land with a re-colonising motive. This is what incited the Freedom Fighters to take exception and protest.

In my view the only gain the Freedom Fighters achieved is ridicule and further distrust. It was a demonstration and protest of sheer madness.

I am sure every intelligent person knows the meaning re-enactment.

Stories from the Mahabharata are re-enacted often. So too are Shakespeare’s plays. I am also sure that everyone knows what a commemoration is. I sincerely hope there is a difference between “commemoration of a sea voyage” and “commemoration of colonisation”. Commemorations and re-enactments do not have to be date specific or are not governed by strict guidelines.

I am sure, ”IF” intelligent diplomats in New Delhi felt the ships arrival was to celebrate re-colonisation, it would have advised against such a visit and send the might of all its warships to greet it. NRP Sagres is no more than a wooden Ship of a past era. The Portuguese too would be sensitive and exercise due diligence to such an event taking place.

Who`s action is right? New Delhi, or the semi & uneducated Freedom Fighters and Goan Politicians or a comical supporter, Yogesh.

India today, along with Goa too, has good diplomatic relations with Portugal.

They are all members of the United Nations. Such a body did not exist 500 hundred years ago.Portugal supports Indias membership as a permanent member to the United Nations Security Council.

Yogesh`s initial article questioned the dis-respect shown to the Freedom Fighters in comments that were made about them. He must begin to understand that we now live in a Democracy, where some will agree with the Ships arrival and purpose and others will disagree. That is our fundamental right.

If 80% of the FF`s are fake, as per Yogesh himself, who majority views is he choosing to defend?

It was not the real Freedom Fighters that were being criticised…..it was most definitely the fakes. Most Goans have an issue about the proven fakes.

The question that Goans ask, and rightfully so is: was Liberation Good for Goa.?

As far as Yogesh is concerned….it was, as it gave us a jewel.., the RTI Act. Approx. 45 years after Liberation.

I doubt Yogesh can distinguish a difference between Civilisations of the past and civilisations present. They are both the same, based on his, prejudices jurisprudence & comical justifications.

The World 500 years ago, had no Political systems as we know it today. There were no pre-defined borders.

Rulers, 500 hundred years ago were Dynastic Emperors’, Kings & Queens, and Dictators.If anyone complained…they would be hanged, garrotted, guillotined, burnt at the stakes, or fed to the Lions.

India had a very large share of Emperors’, Kings & Queens. All, at some point in history, were at each other’s throats. All of them, colonising and invading each other’s subjects, or religious beliefs.

Nazism, as per Yogesh, I suppose, is not a form of a “Crusade”, Invasion or Ideological & doctrinal colonisation.

Every Political system, regimes, forms of governance of the past, in every country as we know it in the modern world, have had a fair share of atrocities, wars, invasions, colonisations etc. Why is Portugal only being singled out. Portugal colonised Goa…the British, the majority of India. I do not hear about protests in what was British India. Why is it so?.

Since we are all Indians now, shouldn`t we condemn and protest at both, the British and Portuguese “forever more”.  I do not hear many protests from the Indian Side (British) of the divide. Why?

Both Colonizers have left India with a huge legacy.What have the Freedom Fighters of Goa left us with?...the RTI…highlighted by Yogesh. Is that not comical, to say the least.

Portuguese Churches, which existed side by side with Goa`s Temples are World heritage sites which earn huge Tourist revenue.

What is the current motive of the Goa Freedom Fighters?...unjustified taxpayers Money, Fear, political muscle,? Hasn`t the world moved on.?...or are we living in some sort of a Freedom Fighters time warp or suspension of TIME. circa 1961

In 20 years’ time, many of the FF`…fake and real, will have died and passed away into history. Who will be protesting about the arrival of NRP Sagres, when it re-enacts a sea voyage, if ever? Perhaps Yogesh!!!

Today Goa is slowly being decimated, inch by inch, minute by minute. There is a new form of colonisation taking place, right under the eyes of the freedom fighters and right at their doorstep too.

Goa`s new colonisers are, whether Yogesh agrees or not, or again chooses to skate around the truth and beat around the bush…, are the, Corrupt Politicians, Real estate companies, mining companies, hoteliers, un-controlled migration,Ghettoes & Nagars etc.

Yogesh is more concerned about the historical crimes committed by the Portuguese than by the current and far more severe crimes committed by Goa`s Politicians’, under the questionable “Freedoms” and “Liberty” won by the FFs.

Politics in Goa today is a family run business. It is a profit & loss based business operated by the likes of Churchills, Ranes, Monserattes etc.

There is one law for the rich and mighty and another for the poor. Let’s blame it on the Portuguese, while the Freedom fighters have gone to sleep or are having a long, Political siesta.

The Governor today feels the RTI should not apply to him, but only to the Citizens he has been appointed to oversee. It could be called freedom and impunity & exemption from justice and due process of law.

Corruption, land grabbing and other nefarious activities now permeates every nook and corner of the fabric of Goa. This is of no concern to the Freedom Fighters. Burgling Churches and Temples on a daily or weekly basis is a sort of Political freedom and democratic right won by the FF`s.

Is this not another form of Colonisation?

The NRP Sagres came and went. It has sailed off into history again.

If this is all the FFs could protest about, it is rather a shame, as their liberation has brought or is bringing a slow death to Goa. Let us not blame the Freedom Fighters for their ineffectiveness, as it will upset Yogesh. Let’s blame the Portuguese.

So I hope Yogesh understands, if ever he can, that we will give respect when it is due and earned.. not when it is demanded by his comical and ridiculous historical versions.

Note: Yogesh can reply…but I have no further desire to respond to blatant fools.

Goa should be a Progressive state? Part 1,2,3 etc..Oh yes…when Yogesh Marathe takes us backwards in time….and with no consensus for the future.

Who are you fooling and deceiving Mr Yogesh Marathe? Do not try to “pull wool over our eyes”. You are no Niz-Goenkar (EDITOR TAKE NOTE).

PORTUGUESE LEGACY IN GOA by Dr. Francis Colaco

It is imperative therefore that we exorcise ourselves, first and foremost, from the demons of hatred and unforgiveness that hang within us. As grown-ups it is also high time we squarely accept the blame that rests on us for the present chaos in Goa. Moreover, a healthy society doesn’t regale in the opening up of past wounds.

Until his death two years ago, at least twice a week, I would spend my evenings with an elderly friend of mine, the departed Fabião da Costa, from Seraulim, Salcete. To chat with him was such an edifying experience! Though Fabião vouched he was an agnostic, he held a religious outlook on life that could put many of us to shame. A gentleman wizened with age and wisdom, he always stood by his principles and values. Love and respect for one’s neighbour was always uppermost in his mind.

Fabião was a hero of the fight for Goa’s freedom and spent four long years in prison. He turned down a comfortable home life of luxury to live in a prison cell - to free Goa from the repressive Portuguese regime. He never claimed any goodies for himself or his children. But, he often confessed, he was a disillusioned man.

Once he even confided: “You know doctor, I sometimes feel ashamed of calling myself a freedom-fighter seeing what is happening today. Never did we think we were making such sacrifices for the present-day greedy politicians to turn Goa into a stable”.

Portuguese Legacy

Many like Fabião fought bravely against the despotic Portuguese regime. And with good reason. But were the Portuguese uniformly bad? “Give the dog a bad name before you hang him”, goes the saying. And that’s precisely what is being done today to the Portuguese Legacy in our Bhangarachem Goem.

Eventually, I know, Portuguese lore here is going to be a thing of the past. Misunderstood and unsung, Portuguese culture will eventually die from an inflicted, unnatural death. Not that the gravediggers will never try to revive its dead body.

Tomorrow, with the economy collapsing and the tourist influx dwindling, many will regret having killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. But then it will be too late! Goa will have lost its identity forever. We will no more be seen as “the pluralistic society”, or, as “the confluence of three millenary cultures, the Indian, the Latin and the Anglo-Saxon”.

And, on that day, many will shed crocodile tears.

What is Legacy? It may be pertinent to ask. It is obviously something that is handed down to us by our predecessors. And that clearly includes the good and the bad. It is a fact of life that there’s nothing that is so bad that does not have a “good” side to it, and vice versa. And if that is so, could Portuguese Legacy lag far behind? Or is it that the legacy under consideration is the only abhorrent monster that there is?

It is not uncommon to see strong criticism being meted out to the Portuguese from various quarters. But what pains me the most is that such unwarranted barrage, more often than not, comes from people who until yesterday were dancing the vira with the Portuguese.

Why is bitter criticism often being leveled against the Portuguese? It is not difficult to understand that such an attitude is born of the reality that the Portuguese came here as conquerors. Not only did they thrust upon us a colonial political regime but, what is more, they forced upon us their customs, their culture, their lore and much more. And regrettably, our genuine freedom fighters, during the liberation struggle, were made to suffer a lot at the hands of a repressive regime.

The Plus Side

But, to be fair, the Portuguese also brought in a lot of good things: their manners, their art, their architecture, their beautiful language, the civil code, their romantic songs and a lot more. Even at the height of the liberation struggle there was a saying “Hate Portugal, not the Portuguese”. Unlike the British who were haughty and isolated themselves in ivory towers, the Portuguese were courteous, friendly and mingled easily with the locals.

Permit me now to recount a personal story as I remember Heitor with saudades. He was an officer in the Portuguese army and we became good friends. Full of life, he sang beautifully, and was at his best when our musical group “Tuna Académica” provided him the accompaniment. After the takeover of Goa by the Indian Army, Heitor was placed in a concentration camp, but sadly, for reasons I still can’t fathom, I failed to pay him a visit when he needed me the most. One day, two women of ill fame (the so-called prostitutes, “scum of the earth”), who ironically had remained loyal to Heitor unlike me, came knocking at my door. “Heitor wanted to see me urgently”, they said. “Could I please make it possible”? Ashamed and embarrassed, I rushed to Ponda, where Heitor was lodged. By then, it was too late. After going through a lot of humiliation at the hands of the Indian Army, he and his colleagues had at last been repatriated to Portugal. I hope and pray, even to this day, in my heart of hearts, that Heitor will have forgiven me (though I must confess I never heard from him again). Now, when I lay hands on my guitar, and strum the chords of his favorite song “Pepita”, tears come rolling down from my eyes. And I am reminded with nostalgia of him and the lovely Portuguese friends we had. And above all of the “lesson in forgiveness” a humble but loving Portuguese soldier chose to teach me. And in the treasure trove of my memory I preserve Heitor’s sacrifice as a shining sample of “Portuguese legacy”.

Portuguese bashing

Anti-Portuguese sentiments (I say this with a good deal of sadness) have been unfortunately worked up into frenzy for some time now, since the MG took over, to polarize Goans. After the advent of the BJP, a systematic campaign was unleashed to “demolish” the Portuguese. CM Parrikar’s oft-repeated statement “Our Heritage is only what we received from the pre-Portuguese period” contributed significantly to further whip up anti-Portuguese sentiments.

Surprisingly, people whom I know and who swore by “their Portuguese legacy” until yesterday, were now shouting from their rooftops demanding that the last vestiges of Portuguese culture in Goa must disappear. Whipping up communal sentiments, further, they chose to nickname Catholics as a group, with the “derogatory” words: “Portuguese People”, conveniently forgetting that, as far as patriotism and Indian-ness is concerned, Catholics are second to none.

Let’s move ahead

Could we make a resolve? Let the badmouthing cease henceforth. A line must be drawn before letting our emotions take off as far as Portuguese legacy is concerned.

Years ago, after liberation, I remember, disgruntled elements razed to the ground Afonso de Albuquerque’s statue in Goa. They rightly said that this despot, the most contemptible symbol of the Portuguese empire, had no right to be atop a pedestal.

But later, when the Camões statute was also destroyed it was more difficult to accept their reasoning. Camões, was the poet par excellence rated amongst the best in the world, his work transcending man-made barriers and all human frontiers as well. The acts of vandalism sometime ago in the city of Panjim, allegedly with the tacit approval of the higher-ups, were also abominable and reflect a deeper malaise. Having taken place on the Revolution Day, in an attempt to lend credibility to a group that must have contributed precious little toward the freedom struggle, it is a matter of shame and concern to all.

But what seems to border on the absurd is the present despicable act by a few worthies to “exorcise” the water bed under the Portuguese M/V Sagres that docked here in Goa for a few days. “Evil spirits had to be exorcised”, the zealots said. Miserably such worthies fail to realize that evil spirits (whether from Portugal or elsewhere) also travel by land and air; what is more, at supersonic speed.

It is imperative therefore that we exorcise ourselves, first and foremost, from the demons of hatred and unforgiveness that hang within us. As grown-ups it is also high time we squarely accept the blame that rests on us for the present chaos in Goa. Moreover, a healthy society doesn’t regale in the opening up of past wounds.

All said and done, it’s time to rejoice. Fifty years of freedom from the Portuguese rule are definitely a time to celebrate. But, side-by-side let’s admit, it’s also time for reflection, stock-taking and introspection.

BOBBY FARELL OF BONEY M FAME DIES AGED 61

MOSCOW: The charismatic frontman of Boney M, Bobby Farrell, has died on tour in St Petersburg after finishing a gig despite medical concerns.  The 61-year-old, who brought the Caribbean carnival tradition of his native Aruba to western pop, had complained of breathing problems before and after the show.

Alfonso Farrel alias Bobby Farell o

"He did a show last night as part of Bobby Farrell's Boney M and they found him this morning dead in his hotel room," agent John Seine told Reuters. "He did not feel well last night and was having problems with his breathing, but he did the show anyway." The cause of death was not immediately released.

John Seine, said that "heart problems, shortage of breath and problems with his stomach" had plagued the performer for 10 years, but had never dented his love of performing live. A natural showman, Farrell made slick dance routines and exotic costumes as much a part of Boney M appearances as the music.

The most famous person to come out of Aruba – a tiny island nation which along with Curacao and Sint Maarten are part of the Netherlands – he towered over the women who took the other three places in the group. His signing in 1975 gave a new lease of life to an odd collective, which primarily performed to music pre-recorded by the German singer and composer Frank Farian.

The group, which formed in West Germany in the late 1970s, was put together by German record producer Frank Farian, best known for assembling the musicians who sang the vocals for sham 1990s pop duo Milli Vanilli. Farian, who made a career out of ghostwriting songs, was unable to make it as a singer, but when his tune "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" became a hit in 1976 under the stage name Boney M, he hired Farrell to act as the lead "singer" of the group.

Farrell was seldom involved in studio recordings of the group's many hits such as Rivers of Babylon and Brown Girl in the Ring. His forte was live performance, when his sometimes ragged voice worked well and his movements were a whirl of bare midriff, tight bell-bottoms, huge afro hair-do and spidery reach and height.

"I like to look good on stage and to release all my energy in my shows," he said on his website recently. "The energy in my music has no limit. I want people to feel entertained and to hear the love that I have for creating music, translated into my songs."

Farrell was involved in a succession of dramatic splits and makeups with Farian, leaving the group more than once after allegations of unreliability. But his career continually reignited after initial stardom in the 1970s, and he barnstormed the international concert circuit in the 1990s and the first decade of this century.

"He was a fantastic person, quite bizarre," said Seine. "He had a big heart but he was also explosive."

Born Alfonso Farrell, he was brought up amid Aruba's rich musical combination of carnival songs and processions, mixed with religious ceremonies from the Dutch colonial era. He left school at 15 to work as a sailor, but jumped ship in Norway and set himself up as a DJ.

Modest success took him to Germany where he was spotted by Farian, who had invented Boney M as a pseudonym, taken from an Australian TV series. Music was Farian's strength but he needed a sexy and attention-catching cast to present curiosities such as Baby Do You Wanna Bump, which he recorded entirely himself in 1974, singing both deep bass and falsetto parts.

Though former exotic male dancer Farrell and fellow Boney members Marcia Barrett and Liz Mitchell sang live during concerts, Farrell's vocals were largely absent from their biggest hits, including "Daddy Cool," "Sunny," "Ma Baker," "Rivers of Babylon" and "Rasputin." The group was well-received and scored a string of hits in Europe and Russia, but never really crossed over to the United States. They sold 80 million albums in their heyday and 1978's "Rivers of Babylon"/"Brown Girl in the Ring" is still the fifth-best-selling British single of all time.

Farrell proved his worth with Daddy Cool, which was Britain's number one for five weeks in 1978, the same year as Rivers of Babylon made the top spot. His own Boney M team played to wild acclaim up to his death, with an Abba-like repertoire of past golden hits to sing. Following tours of the United States, Colombia, Turkey, Finland and Slovakia, he was due to release a new album and tour Italy this spring.

By the time the group's fifth studio album, Boonoonoonoos, was released in 1981, Farrell, known as the "King of Disco," had been kicked out and replaced by another singer. Farrell (born Alfonso Farrell in Aruba on October 6, 1949) was slated to perform on New Year's Eve in Italy.

He was found dead by staff at St Petersburg's Ambassador hotel after failing to respond to a wake-up call. A Dutch speaker, he lived near Amsterdam, where he leaves a son and a daughter.

COPS CLUELESS SO FAR IN KUNDAIM MURDER

PONDA: Four days later, and the Ponda police are still looking for clues in the murder of Kundaim resident, Ramesh Gaikwad reported at Manaswadda, Kundaim.

Gaikwad, who was a labour contractor and a native of Maharashtra was residing at Kundaim since last 18 months. He was murdered in his own car by some unknown persons by strangulating his neck; the nylon rope used to commit the offence was found on his person.

“We are trying our best to establish the motive behind the murder. Our investigation revealed that money or robbery was not the cause behind the murder,’’ Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Serafin Dias told this daily.

Mr Dias further said that the movements of two suspects, who were detained for interrogations in connection with the murder case were also not matching and therefore they were set free.

“Within next few days, we are hopeful of a breakthrough in the case,” he assured adding that the family members of Gaikwad, who had left for conducting the final rites in Maharashtra, are still to come.

“Statement of the deceased’s wife will be taken, which also could give some clues in the case,’’ said Ponda police inspector and the investigating officer in the case, Mr C L Patil, adding few more suspects will also be questioned in connection with the case to find out the reasons behind the murder.

It may be recalled that the 30-year-old Gaikwad was found murdered in his own Maruti 800 car bearing registration number GA01 S-0920. A local noticed the car and brought to the attention of the police the body that was lying lifeless on the driver’s seat.

A case of murder, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code was registered by the Ponda police immediately after the site panchanama.

WHO ARE THE REAL FREEDOM FIGHTERS STILL SURVIVING by Rupert Coutinho, UAE

Of late there are so many debates on who the true freedom fighters are since its been more than 50 years of the forced occupation of Goa by Indian Union and doubts are expressed on the survival or true age of these people. Since freedom fighters registered with government authorities draw allowances/ pensions from the taxpayers, this taxpayers money contributed by Goans should not end up being misused. Native Goans need to reap the benefits of the taxes they pay.

Successive governments in Goa over the past 50 years have honoured and praised the contributions of the so called freedom fighters but since it becoming increasingly evident of some fake names, the government needs to come clean and publish the names and ages (DOB) of these freedom fighters since the native Goans should not be taken for a ride. This will also stop the fake ones from reaping benefits at the expense of the taxpayers. Failure to disclose this information should be dealt with seriously and alternative steps like using the RTI act should be considered.

ENQUIRY AGAINST THREE COPS ON INDICTION BY SPCA

PANJIM: The police department has ordered a disciplinary inquiry against three cops who have been found guilty by the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) of having ''played an active role in a conspiracy'' against a Colva mundkar to deprive the latter of mundkarial rights.

"After receiving the SPCA's report, we asked SP (South) to conduct a preliminary inquiry. During inquiry it was found that there was substantial truth in the allegations and therefore we have ordered a departmental enquiry," said a senior police official.  SPCA had indicted PI Uday Parab, PSI Kapil Naik and constable Arun Rane.

SPCA had asked the police department to initiate disciplinary or criminal proceedings against the three after they were found guilty of serious misconduct, deliberate bending of statutory rules and gross abuse of authority, after hearing a complaint filed by Sebastio and Remetin Lucas from Colva.

Raising questions about the ''crude and inhuman handling'' and ''total lack of professionalism and absolute perversion of the system'' displayed by PI Uday Parab, PSI Kapil Naik and constable Arun Rane, SPCA, led by Justice Eurico Santana da Silva, had observed that the ''respondents have consciously prevaricated in the discharge of their statutory duties and grossly failed to faithfully perform their professional obligations. While doing so they seem to have willingly or unwillingly played an active role in a well-planned conspiracy plotted against the petitioners in order to deprive them of their legitimate rights of mundkarship, in spite of these rights having been judicially acknowledged by the highest court of the state''.

SPCA had observed that there is a "strange mixture of twisted half-truths and untruths" which flow from the statements made by the cops, coupled with a "show of arrogance and irresponsible behaviour", even as there is sufficient evidence to indict all three for "acts of serious misconduct, deliberate bending of the statutory rules of procedure and gross abuse of authority".

In the complaint, the complainants had alleged gross misconduct and abuse of authority by Parab, who was in charge of Colva police station in 2006, Naik and Rane.

Lucas alleged that he was illegally arrested on September 4, 2006 based on a non-cognizable complaint lodged by one Melisa Fernandes, who owns the property on which their mundkarial house is located.

The next day, while attending proceedings in the sub-divisional magistrate's court, they came to know that the Fernandes' were demolishing their mundakrial house and when they tried to lodge a complaint at Colva police station to seek protection and stop the demolition, the police refused to entertain them and their house was razed and belongings completely destroyed.

THREE PERSONS ARRESTED IN MONTE DONGOR RIOTING AND MURDER ATTEMPT CASE

MARGAO: Three persons arrested in Tuesday's attempt to murder and rioting case at Monte Dongor were on Wednesday remanded to six days police custody by a local court here.

Margao police inspector Santosh Desai on Wednesday informed that Lalsab Bashasab Bahur, Anwar Sheikh and Nafisab Bahur have been sent to police custody. The accused had used swords and wooden sticks causing head injuries to the victims. The fourth accused, a minor, was sent to a juvenile home on Tuesday.

Six persons were injured and admitted to Hospicio hospital following group clashes at Monte Dongor on Tuesday evening. A group allegedly intercepted a bus belonging to another group leading to the clashes. Subsequently, police arrested the four accused.

Police said that Tuesday's clash was a fall out of previous enmity between the two groups and have deployed additional police force to avoid any further tension. For the next few days police forces will maintain law and order in the area. More arrests are likely in the next few days, police said. A month ago, a similar clash between two groups was reported from the sensitive area housing a huge migrant population. The civic poll related issues have led to the rivalry.

GOA'S CONGRESS LAW COMMISSION by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

Every State Law Commission in the country has been headed by either a retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge.

Against all established norms and practice the Law Commission in Goa is headed by Mr. Ramakant Khalap an active politician who is also a spokesman of the State Congress party besides being the Chairman of the Mapusa Urban Cooperative Bank of Goa. That he was charge sheeted in various corruption related cases which were later politically withdrawn is another issue. If the government wanted to politically rehabilitate him with cabinet rank and status they should have found another position rather than degrade the sanctity of the Law Commission. Being a former Union Law Minister is no qualification or criteria to head the State Law Commission. Is this the Goa Law Commission or the Congress Law Commission?

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE AT GOA IS A SCAM IN THE OFFING ALLEGES AIRES

PANJIM: Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today alleged that the proposed International Arbitration Centre at Goa was a major scam in the offing.  Cautioning the Goa Government not to associate or get itself involved with it, Adv. Rodrigues has demanded a thorough probe into the setting up of the proposed International Arbitration Centre by misusing the Law Commission of Goa.

Adv. Rodrigues has sought to know how the Law Commission members could actively associate themselves en bloc to form this private Trust, giving a colour that the International Arbitration Centre is an official entity of the State Government.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the Goa Law Commission has no business to promote and actively participate in the setting up of an international arbitration centre.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the International Arbitration Centre was being set up by a private trust set up by Law Commission Chairman Ramakant Khalap, and commission members Adv. Cleofato Coutinho and Adv. Mario Pinto Almeida.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the fourth member of the trust is one Mr. V.K.Agarwal from Delhi whose profession is also not disclosed in the trust deed

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that it was very apparent that the Chairman and members of the Goa Law Commission by misusing their position have formed a private Trust, purely as a commercial enterprise.

Giving further details Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the trust deed under the name “ Goa Organisation for Law Finance and Education” was registered on 25th Nov 2010 under a fictitious registered address on Panjim’s 18th June Road.

Adv. Rodrigues has also alleged that that the Goa Law Commission was sought to be involved in the setting up the International Arbitration Centre to legitimize this planned fraud.

Stating that the Supreme Court had recently expressed concern about the rot in the Judiciary, Adv. Rodrigues has questioned the need of the government to associate itself with a trust which has been set up with alleged ulterior vested motives.

Adv. Rodrigues has urged the State Government not to lend support to this Trust which is purely a private Trust, for achieving its private objectives. He also demanded that no property of the State Government be made available to this Trust over which the Government would have no control.

Adv. Rodrigues also demanded that the State Government should enquire into the functioning of the Law Commission to verify whether its premises and machinery is being misused for the setting up and functioning of this Trust.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that International arbitration is being currently conducted at New Delhi by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) and the Indian Council of Dispute Resolution (ICADR).

Stating that ICA and ICADR are both societies registered under the Societies registration Act 1860 with their affairs performed with utmost transparency Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the proposed International Arbitration Centre at Goa will be run by a private trust that will be not be accountable to the public.

Adv. Rodrigues has today in letters to Union Law Minister Dr. Veerappa Moily, Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Ferdino Rebello and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat requested them in public interest not to be associated with the inaugural function of the International Arbitration Centre scheduled for January 4th .

THIEVES IMPERSONATE POLICE TO ROB AND LOOT

MARGAO: If a woman was burgled of her bag containing valuables worth over Rs seven lakh at a nuptial ceremony in a Church here on Tuesday evening, another woman became the victim of thieves while on an early morning jog around the Margao municipal garden – just a stone’s throw away from the Margao police headquarters on Wednesday.

Seventy-year old Sangeeta Mohan Redkar was relieved of her gold and other ornaments valued Rs 10 lakhs by miscreants posing as police personnel while she was jogging around the municipal garden on early Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred on early Wednesday morning when Redkar was on her routine early morning jog around the Municipal garden. Police said miscreants posing as policemen approached her while she was as usual jogging around the garden and advised her that it is not safe to wear precious ornaments when burglaries on the rise in the state. They advised her to remove the ornaments and keep them safely on her person.

An unsuspecting Sangeeta is believed to have paid heed to their advise, only to find the miscreants again approaching her after some time and advising her to put her ornaments in a plastic container.

Police said the victim woman did exactly what was advised by the miscreants under the guise of police personnel, but was handed over a container which did not contain her ornaments.

It was only later realisation dawned that the miscreants who approached her were not police personnel but thieves who took advantage of the situation. Three finger rings, besides six gold bangles, and a precious necklace, all worth around Rs 10 lakhs was stolen from the victim woman.

The Margao police has registered a case of theft against unknown miscreants. Incidentally, the Margao police, put on the backfoot over the spate of thefts in the commercial capital, maintained secrecy over the incident, and it was only later in the evening that the daring theft was confirmed by Margao police sub divisional officer, Deputy Superintendent Umesh Gaonkar.

In another development two thieves posing as policemen hoodwinked a housemaid from Mapusa and decamped with gold ornaments worth Rs 10,300. According to Mapusa police, the incident took place as Sushila Naik, a housemaid at Gausawado-Mapusa, was proceeding to her residence at Altinho on completion of work in the afternoon. When she reached near the civil court, two men in civil dress stopped her and claimed to be "policemen".

They mentioned that thefts and murders over gold ornaments are on rise in the town and said it was dangerous to move in the town wearing gold ornaments. They advised her to keep her ornaments in her bag and offered her a piece of paper to enclose the gold ornaments.

The housemaid accepted their suggestion in good faith and removed the gold ornaments, worth Rs 10,300, from her body and put them in the piece of the paper. One 'policeman' took those ornaments on the pretext of tying it properly, while his accomplice kept the woman busy in conversation.

The 'policeman' who had taken the gold ornaments exchanged the same with some fake silver ornaments and handed over the paper to the woman. they then advised her to open the paper only on reaching home.

The woman, however, opened the paper after traveling for some distance and was shocked to find that her gold ornaments had been replaced with fake silver ornaments. She then lodged a complaint at the Mapusa police station. Police Sub Inspector Dhawasker is investigating the case.

STORM SUBSIDED BUT IS IN A VERY FRAGILE SHAPE

MARGAO: An uneasy calm prevailed atop the migrant inhabited Monte Dongor locality of the commercial capital throughout Wednesday after Tuesday’s clashes and attacks on women, even as the Margao police charged the assailants for the offence of attempt to murder.

The police have so far arrested four accused persons for attempt to murder and are maintaining a close vigil atop the hillock anticipating retaliation from the rival group.

Victim Maqbool is still convalescing at Hospicio hospital and his supporters and residents have demanded the immediate arrest of accused Bashir Sheikh, the accused in the swords seizure case. The Margao police are on the look out of the remaining accused, including Bashir.

Margao PI Santosh Desai said the police have registered a serious offense of attempt to murder against the eight accused persons. “The police has checked a number of places to nab the accused persons. We are maintaining a close watch on their movements, who are believed to be moving together”, he said.

PI Desai visited the Hospicio hospital on Wednesday noon and assured injured Maqbool that the police would not spare accused Bashir. Maqbool said the residents are angry that the police have been turning a blind eye to complaints made against Bashir and demanded action. “If the police are sincere, they should immediately arrest Bashir and the remaining three persons”, he demanded.

Not ruling out retaliation from the Maqbool group, the police have continued their presence on the hillock on the second day today. “The police is deployed as a precautionary measure. The day passed off peacefully”, remarked PI Desai.

He said the accused arrested in the case Lalsaab Basha, Anwar Shaikh and Nabisaab have been remanded to six days police custody for further investigations, while the fourth accused, a minor, has been sent to the Apna Ghar.

Sources in the know said the police authorities are kept the district administration headed by district Collector, G P Naik informed about the tension and violence on Monte Dongor.  Collector Naik said that the repeated violence and tension is not a healthy sign in the locality and said that the authorities would crack a whip against all anti-social activities on the hillock.

NEW MODUS OPERANDI BY DRUG PEDDLARS TO FOOL POLICE

PANJIM: The drug peddlers have come up with a new strategy to hoodwink the police and continue with their illegal drug trade on the eve of the New Year.

According to sources in the state police department, the drug peddlers now do not carry drugs on their person. Instead, they carry visiting cards and small chits of paper with their contact information written on it. They also carry a pen, informed the cops.

Elaborating on the latest modus operandi employed by the drug peddlers, the police said that these peddlers circulate the chits of paper having their mobile phone number written on it, among the drug addicts. They also give their visiting cards to the drug addicts and to others interested in the illegal trade or even write their phone numbers on the palms of the addicts. The drugs are also supplied by dissolving the same in soft drink bottles, informed the police. In the past, these drug peddlers were caught by police for possessing drugs on their person, sometimes packaged in packets resembling that of painkillers.

A total of 69 drug peddlers have been arrested by the police and this includes 40 Indians and 29 foreign nationals. Among the foreign nationals held, Nigerians top the list followed by Nepalis and Israelis. The total value of drugs seized in the current year is around Rs 1.4 crore and 15 cases are still pending trial while 49 cases are pending investigation.

In 2009, the Anti-Narcotics Cell booked 14 cases while 17 cases were booked at other police stations in the state. The ANC seized a total of 30.785 kg of drugs valued at around Rs 87 lakh in that year while the drugs seized at other police stations in 2009 was 22.410 kg which was worth around Rs 15 lakh. Drug peddler Atala’s arrest brought to light the nexus between police and the drug peddlers and later six policemen attached to the ANC were suspended. However, the Israeli drug peddler escaped from the state after he was released by the court. The state police, however, did a commendable job by bringing to book top drug peddlers in the state’s coastal belt like David Driham alias Dudu and Sadanand Chimulkar alias Bhui.

WHO CREATED THIS SITUATION AT MONTE DONGOR, MIGRANTS OR THE POLITICIAN OF MARGAO?

MARGAO: Who gave the settlement NOC to build a Nagar? Was it Digamber Kamat who reared up the migrants to be his future vote bank is the question asked by the Goans of Margao today. Well the answer is YES this settlement is only with the blessings of Digamber Kamat. Were the Goans asleep when the migrants were gathering in pieces? Digamber Kamat has definitely taken the advantage of the SUSEGAD Goans. Is there any solution or will tension flare up? Goa is slowly changing into another Bihar.

Bitter rivalry between friends-turned-foes amidst signs of political realignment and attempts to establish leadership atop the hillock seems to have brought warring groups in the open at migrant inhabited Monte Dongor.

In fact, the Maqbool and Bashir groups have been at loggerheads with each other since the municipal polls and were involved in a spate of assaults since then. While the Bashir group had supported the cousin brother of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, the Maqbool group had thrown their weight behind Iqbal.

Sources in the know said that Maqbool was once a close friend of Bashir’s bother Jalil before the swords seizure case created fissures in their relationship. It is not out of place to mention here that both Maqbool and Jalil have built posh bungalows next to each other at Monte Dongor.

While reports attributed business rivalry between the two groups, as possible reasons for the standoff between them, the two camps has dismissed all such reports. Maqbool said from the Hospital bed that Bashir has been trying to establish his foothold on Monte Dongor by indulging in dadagiri. “The residents are opposed to Bashir’s dadagiri because of his antecedents. I have landed in trouble in the swords case because of Bashir. That’s the time I severed my ties with Jalil as well”, he said. “I never had any link with Bashir. My friendship was with Jalil. Now, both the brothers are against me because I have exposed Bashir’s criminal activities”, Maqbool added.

Maqbool is into business, owing two buses, a saloon, besides a rickshaw and denied that he has interests in any mining activities.

He admitted that the two brothers could not digest the fact that I and my group supported Iqbal in the Municipal polls against Laxmikant Kamat, cousin brother of the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat.

On the other hand, Bashir’s brother Jalil says the rivalry between the two groups has only intensified during and after the Municipal polls. “What is happening atop the Monte Dongor is the fall out of the elections”, he said.  The police has attributed the flare up on Monte Dongor to an incident that occurred on Monday when accused Ameen from the Bashir group was manhandled by the rival group.

PI Santosh Desai said that the Maqbool group accused Ameen for allegedly spreading defamatory news about a woman in the locality. Incensed over the incident, the Maqbool group along with women questioned Ameen and the matter later reached the police station after he complained of assaults.

PI Desai said the two groups were brought to the police station and they both decided to compromise on the matter. “The matter had ended at the police station on Monday evening. However, Ameen along with Bashir and others attacked Maqbool and others in retaliation for the assault on Monday”, PI Desai added.

The diktat of the elders – the first settlers on the hillock around three decades ago – no longer runs large amongst the youth atop the hillock, so it seems. At one time, elders such as Tara, Maulla and others were deciding on issues affecting the inhabitants, whether political or otherwise. One of the first settlers on the hillock, Tara says the inhabitants had never fought amongst themselves over the last three decades, adding that the violence and rivalry would only give the locality a bad name.

Sources said that Maulla was once a force to reckon with amongst the minority community, but now youth such as Jalil, Bashir, Maqbool and others have their own pockets of influence on the hillock.

The Margao police have come under the scanner as both the groups have charged the men-in-uniform for not initiating action on time against anti-social elements.  Maqbool said that repeated police inaction to crack a whip has only emboldened Bashir to unleash a reign of terror on Monte Dongor.

This group, which had supported a candidate against the cousin brother of the Chief Minister, feels that the police have not acted promptly to nip the trouble in the bud.  On the other hand, the rival group also feels that the police did not act sternly against the anti-socials for damaging two-wheelers owned by members of the Bashir group.

Margao PI Santosh Desai said that the police can initiate action only as per the law and not beyond. “We have acted on complaints received from the two groups by registering cases, which are under investigations”, he said, and declined to comment on the general perception that the police fear is no more felt atop the hillock due to the patronage enjoyed by one group.

ARCHBISHOP OF GOA SAYS CHURCH READY TO PROMOTE DIGNITY OF MAN

PANJIM: Assuring that the Church in Goa will only be too glad to offer its collaboration in the building of a society that sincerely and genuinely promotes the dignity of the human being, religious freedom and cultural harmony as well as peace and justice for everyone.

The Archbishop Patriarch of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrão on Wednesday said that the country and the state presently faces threat to the minority communities, even though minorities do not represent a threat to the identity of the majority but rather form an opportunity for dialogue and mutual cultural enrichment.

Delivering an address at the annual civic reception on the occasion of Christmas held at the Archbishop’s House, the Archbishop said that the growing number of communal riots and pogroms, mostly politically motivated, is only one aspect of this sad deterioration of cherished human and democratic values.

The Governor, Dr S S Sidhu, the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, Ms Asha Kamat, the leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar and Archbishop Emeritus Raul Gonsalves were present at the annual civic reception.

Speaking further, the Archbishop said that right from the United Nations Organisation to various parliaments, legislative assemblies, municipal corporations and village councils like our panchayats, there are vast opportunities for people to sit at a common table and discuss matters of common interest, which work for the common welfare of the human community. “All this is nothing but a profound expression of the deep-seated human longing for unity, a longing that was placed in the heart of man by God himself, a longing that, as I said before, was made his own by Jesus Christ,” he added, bemoaning “Unfortunately, these very structures of participation run the risk of being seen as and effectively becoming tools in the hands of a few to wield their power over the community of nations and of national and state communities, instead of being genuine community empowering instruments.”

“They then become institutions that ignore and silence the minorities, and invest power and legitimacy on a few who dictate terms of governance, sometimes to the point of unsettling the very process of participation,” the Archbishop lamented, pointing out that we have had such cases even in our country, which prides to be the largest democracy in the world.

“I am deeply aware that both, in our country and in our own state, so famous for its communal harmony, meetings and even large conventions take place sometimes with the sole aim of disturbing the inter-religious peace and harmony existing amidst our citizens,” the Archbishop observed, further noting, “It is as if some people will not be at peace until peace is disturbed.” “Can we, responsible citizens and particularly those entrusted with governance, allow that such programmes are executed in blatant defiance to the spirit of our Constitution,” he questioned.

Speaking about the festival of Christmas, the Archbishop said that Christmas has been increasingly taking on a cultural and social dimension that surpasses even religious barriers, as we find people of various social and religious affiliations taking part in Christmas shopping. “Christmas, however, can never be a purely cultural or social event as it is fundamentally a Christ-related event, as its very name suggests: an event which has marked profoundly the course of our human history and has brought about a growing realisation of the need to promote the oneness of humankind.” “Indeed, the genuine development of people depends on this important recognition: that the human race is a single family working together in true communion for its common good,” he maintained.

Earlier, the dignitaries lighted a lamp to mark the occasion. Fr Loyola Pereira welcomed, while Noel Barreto read out a passage from the Holy Bible. A dance performance accompanied by a bhajan was presented on the occasion. The evening also witnessed a skit, ‘Christmas in April and Everyday’ and Christmas Carols presented by Santa Cecilia Choir from Rachol Seminary. Ms Crystal Lobo compered.