NRI duped at Calangute
CALANGUTE: An NRI from Calangute was duped of foreign currency worth Rs 7.65 lakh. In a complaint, Antonio Fernandes from Agar Vaddo-Calangute told Calangute Police that he had approached a man from Benaulim, dealing in foreign currency, to exchange foreign currency of US$ 17,000 with better returns. Fernandes visited the accused in Benaulim and finalized the deal, before handing him over the foreign currency.
However, the accused failed to return the Indian currency in exchange. With no sign of the accused, Fernandes visited the residence of the accused only to find the house locked and whereabouts unknown. Fernandes filed a complaint with Calangute Police on Wednesday and the police are on look out for the accused who have disappeared with his family. PSI Gaurish Parab is investigating the case.

One held for stealing
CALANGUTE: Anjuna Police on Wednesday arrested a man on charges of stealing cash of Rs 35,000 and a cycle. In his complaint, Vishwajit Phadke told Anjuna Police that cash of Rs 35,000 and a cycle went missing since the last three days and suspected Shripad Dhore, who was working with him as helper.
Anjuna Police arrested the accused at Ratnagiri on Wednesday. Dhore has been remanded to five days judicial custody and PSI Pilgaonkar is investigating the case.

HC issues notice to Gitesh Naik
PANJIM: Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Gitesh Naik asking him to show cause as to why his bail granted bail by the Principal Sessions Judge should not be cancelled.  Justice A P Lawande issued the notice while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by activist Kashinath Shetye and others.  The activists contended that they were not heard by the lower Court while it heard the bail application filed by Gitesh.  Gitesh, secretary of Nationalist Congress Party youth wing was arrested on June 10 for illegally transporting ore extracted from the property owned by NCP secretary Jitendra Deshprabhu in Khorgao village. He was granted bail on June 21.  The arrest was made following directions by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Pernem to register a case against Deshprabhu and several government officials including Director of Mines, Transport Director and others along with Deshprabhu and his contractor Gitesh Naik for cheating government to the tune of Rs 50 crores.

Plaint filed against corporator
PANJIM: A complaint has been filed against corporator Vaidehi Naik and 80 others for organizing morcha in Panjim without taking permission from any competent authority.  State took suo-moto cognizance of the corporators and about 70-80 women who assembled near Menezes Braganza hall and held morcha.
 “The ladies with their common objects formed an unlawful assembly and without having permission from  any competent authority organized Morcha and  on the road  junction, thereby  wrongfully  restrained  the regular  vehicular  traffic  and the  pedestrian  passing  through  the  road,” the complaint letter reads.  They have been booked under various section of IPC and PI Ramesh Gaonkar is investigating the case.

Bail granted to juvenile
MARGAO:  The Juvenile Justice Board has granted bail to a juvenile arrested by the Maina Curtorim police in an alleged commission of a theft. In its order, the JJB has directed that the Juvenile to attend classes at the Anjuman Islam high school at Margao and submit attendance report after two months.
The minor boy of 14 years was arrested by the Maina Curtorim police for an alleged commission of criminal offense.  Adv Elvis Fernandes said the applicant was wrongly charged with the offense and was a mere suspect in the crime reported by the police.
He further said the applicant has been a peace loving and law abiding citizen of India and has never been involved in any criminal activities nor are there any cases pending against him.

HJS protest goes online
PANJIM: Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has started an ‘online’ signature campaign to drum up support for the campaign against government’s decision to give grants to schools instructing in English at the primary level.
The campaign running on ‘hindujagruti.org’ asks people to digitally sign and show their support.
They have also made a similar demand through memoranda to the President, Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Goa.  “Primary education has been imparted in local languages right from the time of the first Chief Minister of Goa, Late Bhausaheb Bandodkar. Despite this Goa Government has given preference to English language by sidelining the local languages. If Primary education is imparted in local languages then the identity, regional arts, culture of the land are maintained,” the support letter along with the campaign reads.   The campaign is called ‘Save Bharatiya Languages’.

Rethink on MoI, GKA urges govt
PANJIM: The members of the General Council of Goa Konkani Akademi which met on Saturday Wednesday in Panjim under the Chairmanship of N Shivdas unanimously resolved to urge the Government to reconsider its policy on medium of instruction, which is likely to hit the very root of the internationally accepted principles of primary education through the mother tongue only, says a press release issued by GKA.
In its General Council meeting members discussed the medium of instruction for primary level and felt that “Government is not implementing the official language act in true spirit and now the decision on medium of instruction for primary level will add more salt to existing situation of the Konkani language in Goa”.