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The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, wednesday, january 5, 2011 postal reg. no. Goa 101 priCe rs. 3.00
Goa’s Heartbeat: Swipe in to enter Pg 4 Imran’s wedding venue IN BRIEF
The partial solar eclipse – covered the sun by 30 per cent – seen at the historical Durgiana Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday.
13 perish in North India cold wave Allahabad and the national capital on Tuesday shivered under the intense cold wave that claimed 13 more lives and continued to keep mercury under sub-zero levels in the hill states of northern India. The mercury dipped below three deg C, the first time in seven years in Allahabad, leaving eight people dead due to cold in the district. Also, five more deaths were reported from different parts of Uttar Pradesh – two each in Pratapgarh and Jaunpur and one in Barabanki – due to cold since Monday, officials said. – (PTI)
Governor shot dead in Pakistan Pakistan People’s Party leader and Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was shot dead by one of his guards who was angered by his opposition to the controversial blasphemy law. Taseer, 66, was getting into his car in Islamabad when the guard from Punjab Police’s Elite Force shot him with an assault rifle pumping more than 25 bullets at close range. – (PTI)
Business: Sebi can seek info of investors — SC Pg 12
Woman stabs Bihar BJP MLA to death PTI PURNIA (Bihar), JAN 4
Ruling BJP MLA from Purnia Raj Kishore Keshari was on Tuesday stabbed to death at his residence here in full public view by a woman who had earlier accused him of sexual harassment. Four-time MLA, 51-year-old Keshari, was meeting visitors from his constituency at his Sipahi Tola residence here when Rupam Pathak stabbed him fatally in the spleen, Director General of Police (DGP) Neelmani told PTI in Patna. The profusely bleeding MLA was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the way, doctors said. Visitors caught 45-year-old Pathak, beat her up and handed her over to the police. The police admitted the woman, who had lodged a sexual harassment case six months ago against the MLA, to a government hospital. Neelmani ordered Purnia Superintendent of Police N H Khan to ensure that the chargesheet in the case was filed within the next two days. Additional Director General of Police (Hqs) P K Thakur said the murder was premeditated and not a result of anger by Pathak that the police did not look into her complaint. He said the woman had retracted her statement of sexual harassment against the MLA be-
CBI seeks withdrawal of case against ‘Q’ PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 4
Pressing for closure of Bofors pay-offs case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the CBI on Tuesday contended before a Delhi Court there was “nothing new” in the ITAT order that would obstruct the withdrawal of the over two-decadeold criminal proceedings. “I am not disputing what the tribunal has said. That is the case of prosecutor (CBI) also and it is mentioned in the chargesheet. There is nothing new,” Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra told Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav. The court, which was to pass its order on the politically sensitive case, started hearing arguments again after Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agarwal submitted that the matter be looked into afresh in the light of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s order on Monday that kickbacks of Rs 41 crore were paid to late Win Chaddha and Quattrocchi in the Howitzer gun deal.
fore a first class judicial magistrate and her husband too had recorded his statement in support of the MLA. “We are probing the case from all angles,” he said. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the DGPs to constitute a high-level probe team, review the security of all legislators and ensure that those who visited them were frisked. Kumar, who asked his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi to rush to the spot, said the BJP MLA’s cremation will take place with full state honours. The chief minister also appealed to the people and supporters of Keshari in Purnia to maintain peace. State BJP president C P Thakur condemned the killing and said the case must be investigated thoroughly. “We will like a thorough probe into the incident,” Thakur said. He said, “In his (Keshari’s) death, we have lost a young and dedicated soldier of BJP... we pray to God to give enough strength to Keshari’s family and followers to tide over the grief.” DIG Purnia will probe the murder. Condemning the killing of his party MLA, Modi said the matter was being thoroughly probed. “All aspects involved in the incident will be looked into in the course of inquiry,” he said before leaving for Purnia.
Goa Governor Dr S S Siddhu on Tuesday sought immunity under Article 361 of Indian Constitution to absolve himself from the case against him with Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) for not furnishing information under Right to Information (RTI) Act. “Governor has a privilege under Article 361 of Indian Constitution which states that Governor cannot be personally held responsible for the functions he does while discharging his duty,” counsel to the Governor, Carlos Ferreira told reporters after appearing before the Commission. State Information Commissioner Motilal Keny on December 22, 2010 had issued notices to Governor Dr S S Sidhu and Special Secretary to the Governor Dr N Radhakrishnan directing them to appear in person before the Commission on January 4, 2011 in connection with
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 4
SHAHENSHAH OF THE SEAS Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan takes a jet ski ride with his grandson at Benaulim beach on Tuesday. Amitabh, who has a liking for water sports, is on a brief holiday in Goa.
the case. “…By virtue of Article 361 of the Constitution, there is absolute protection, privilege and immunity to the Governor of a State for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any Act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of those powers and duties and hence the Respondent No 1 (Governor) could not be arrayed as a party Respondent in these proceedings,” Narendra Kumar, Secretary to Governor of Goa stated in the Affidavit before the Commission on behalf of Dr Sidhu. The Governor failed to appear before the Commission since he is playing host to President Pratibha Patil during her four-day visit to Goa. But Dr Radhakrishnan appeared before the Bench. Advocate Aires Rodrigues had filed a complaint against the duo for not furnishing (Continued on page 2)
From accommodation rates to food prices to drinking water rates, Goa saw more than 100% increase during the Christmas week and New Year leaving many of the domestic, low-income tourists fuming and fretting over the exorbitant pricing, even as the authorities concerned failed to have in place a sound mechanism to keep a check over this day-light fleecing. Many of the tourists, who came on a low-budget and had plans to ring in the New Year in the sunny climes, had to cut short their visit after Christmas to leave for their respective destinations. The major reason these tourists returned was because even the lowly-priced guest houses in Panjim had jacked up their rates from Rs 600 per night to Rs 1,500 per night. The same was the situation in other tourism hubs and areas
hit with tourists. Some of the restaurants too didn’t lag behind with many of them changing their menu for the season. Food and liquor prices in hotels in the coastal belt went up enormously, leaving the partying tourists with a limited choice.
SHWETA KAMAT PANJIM, JAN 4
Just five per cent of the total investment is what you now require to start a business in Goa, if you have a Self Help Group (SHG). Fulfilling the promise made during his last budget speech, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has given his nod for the landmark finance scheme which will help the self help groups to begin their venture. Under the scheme, which would be funded by Industries Department, SHGs would be given one time non-recurring grant of 50 per cent of the project cost to the extent of Rs 50,000 as a seed capital. “The balance part of seed capital to the extent of 45 per cent would be made available through village co-operative
The night of Christmas in Goa was the chilliest for the year 2010, with temperature dropping down to 17.9 Degree Celsius. The Indian Metrological Observatory Goa in-charge K V Singh said that the northerly winds dropped the temperature during the season. “However, the mercury will remain constant in January as the winds have started flowing
Says Roland Martin of Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network, “In regards to this seasonal rise in prices we are dealing with roughly 25 lakh tourists coming into the State during the entire season, including Christmas and New Year.” Martin mentions in 2009, 25 lakh tourists holidayed in Goa and there were only three complaints of cheating and deficiency in service. This year, many tourists may have felt the need to complain, but whom do they approach to address their grievances, he questioned. “The Tourism Department has no complaint format that could be kept at hotels, airports, bus terminals, railway terminals, etc., from where any complaint can be registered. These formats can be pre-paid ones with stamps affixed on them, same on the lines of the ones that are in possession of the Goa Police Traffic Cell,” he adds. The Director of Tourism
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Christmas night was chilliest: Met HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 4
Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean Dr V N Jindal has confirmed to Agassaim police that the medical exam papers – General Medicine I and II - were leaked to students prior to the exam. Agassaim police is inquiring into a corruption complaint made by three activists over the leak of two medical exam papers. “The Dean has confirmed that General Medicine I and II papers were leaked,” Inspector Vishwesh Karpe told Herald. In his statement, Dr Jindal submitted a conclusion that the leakage could probably be at two stages – moderator (internal examiner) or examination section level of the Goa University – where each of the three sets of papers were available. Kashinath Shetye, Ketan Govekar and Atish Mandrakar in their complaint letter alleged that the papers were deliberately leaked with the motive for wrongful and monitory gains. Following this, the investigating team sent letters to GMC and GU to reply on the police complaint even as the case is yet to be registered. GU in its reply to the police stated that they cannot offer any statement until the GU committee completes its inquiry into the paper leak. GU formed a three-member inquiry committee following the leakage of two question papers of MBBS final year and cancelled the two papers, hours before students could appear for General Medicine II. General Medicine-I paper (Continued on page 2)
Video-footage ‘trails’ police selling drugs
A video-footage shot at an undisclosed destination. HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 4
Almost a year after the policedrug mafia nexus was exposed in March 2010, a local channel has telecast latest footage of a former Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) police sub-inspector selling drugs to two foreigners. The video-footage has been shot at an undisclosed destination showing the policeman selling drugs to two girls. The nationalities of the girls are however not known as yet. The report claims that the man on the spy-camera is PSI Sunil Guddlar, who was instrumental in arresting international drug dealer David Driham alias Dudu with cocktail of drugs in February, last year. The footage also exposes the PSI convincing the girls to p u rc h a s e c h a r a s . Po l i c e spokesperson Atmaram Deshpande refrained from speaking on the issue stating that they
Now, self help groups to get 95% govt grant
Tourists felt cheated this X’Mas, New Year FRANKY GRACIAS PANJIM, JAN 4
Sports: Sachin scores 51st Test ton Pg 16
Dean confirms to police of MBBS papers’ leakage
RTI case: Governor seeks immunity HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 4
(air surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16+6
banks, Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Nationalised banks or other micro finance companies,” Sameer Salgaoncar, Chairman, Goa Handicraft Rural Small Scale Industries Develop-
There’s good news in store for women Self Help Groups in the State. The government has approved a shopping-cum-exhibition mall for the Self Help Groups in the Commercial Capital at an estimated cost of Rs 3-4 crore. If Chief Minister Digambar Kamat is to be believed, land admeasuring 1000 sq meters
ment Corporation (GHRSSIDC), said. The self help groups will have to invest just 5 per cent of the total capital. The State has set aside Rs 40 lakh as an initial corpus for this scheme. Government officials claim that the implementation of the scheme would boost the trade avenues for the self help groups scattered across the State. Chief Minister on Monday gave his nod for the scheme, which is covering all the traditional business ventures like agro processing, cashew roasting, coconut oil extraction, production of chicky and biscuits, pickles, papads, home made embroidery, perfumes and handicrafts. Giving a full proof look to the scheme, the government will
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...to get mall at Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 4
will comment only after watching the footage. Goa ANC earned bad reputation after its former inspector Ashish Shirodkar was named by Israeli drug baron Yaniv Benaim alias Atala as his supplier of drugs. Following this expose by Atala’s former girlfriend Lucky Amori Farmhouse, seven policemen were suspended and arrested for corruption and conspiracy. Atala however managed to get a bail and jumped it leaving back to his home town in Israel. Ironically, PSI Guddlar who is named in the sting operation was earlier last year awarded certificate by Director General of Police B S Bassi for nabbing Dudu. He had also arrested Shirodkar after his links with Atala was exposed by media. Guddlar recently charge sheeted Dudu before the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Court at Mapusa.
Plea seeks 2G licences cancellation PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 4
Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday moved the apex court seeking cancellation of the 2G spectrum licences allotted during the tenure of former Telecom Minister A Raja allegedly in violation of all norms and procedure causing huge loss to the state exchequer.
Sorry, no newspapers! I only sell 'leaked' Medicine papers. It's a more profitable business.