Page 1 sunday_Layout 1 10/2/2010 11:38 PM Page 1
S U N D A Y
O heraLD O Visit us at:www.oheraldo.in
Goa’s Heartbeat: B’wood refuses Pg 12 to ‘come out and play’ IN BRIEF Raju to be grilled soon Former Satyam Computers chairman B Ramalinga Raju, the prime accused in the Rs 14,000-crore scam, was today discharged from NIMS after undergoing treatment for the past 10 months, paving way for his interrogation by the CBI which is likely in a day or two. (PTI)
Sub delivery by next year Signalling further delay in the delivery of Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine to India, a senior Russian official has said that it would now be handed over in March next year. (PTI)
The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, sunDaY, octoBER 3, 2010
India: BJP slams Chidambaram Pg 8 for Babri remarks
7000-strong team to usher in Games PTI NEW DELHI, OCT 2
About 7,000 men, women and children will dish out a show of India’s cultural heritage in a gala Commonwealth Games opening ceremony with the icing on the cake being Maestro A R Rahman’s performance at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium tomorrow. With most of the tickets already sold out, the two-hour ceremony, scheduled from 7 p m, will start with President Pratibha Patil and Britain’s Prince Charles expected to declare the Games open in front of a packed stadium of 65,000 capacity tomorrow. The 619-member strong Indian contingent will be led by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra who will carry the Indian flag during the ceremony. Even as tennis sensation Sania Mirza will not be part of the Indian march-past as the Hyderabadi ace has preferred to rest, badminton star Saina Nehwal, Beijing Olympic Games bronze medalist boxer Vijender Kumar
and wrestler Sushil Kumar will be among the six who will carry the baton during the formal part of the pageant. There will be seven segments — including Rhythm of India, Swagatam, Tree of Knowledge, Yoga, Great Indian Journey and Oscar winner composer A.R. Rahman’s rendition of the CWG anthem Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto — in the nearly three-hour ceremony.
The guest panel will include International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennel, New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Monaco’s Prince Albert II and presidents Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives and Marcus Stephen of Nauru. Hosts India are aiming to break into the traditional rivalry of champions Australia and England who have been fighting it out for top two slots in the past. The Aussies, who have topped the gold and total medal tallies at the past five Games and are expected to once again be confirmed as the number one nation, have sent their largest ever team to an off-shore multidiscipline sports event in a bid to continue their reign in Delhi. Although the country’s highwater mark of 221 medals (84 gold, 69 silver and 68 bronze) at the 2006 Melbourne Games is unlikely to be surpassed in India, team officials expect another gold rush.
CIA chief visited India PTI NEW DELHI, OCT 2
CIA chief Leon Panetta was in India for nearly a week during which he met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and senior officials ahead of the visit of United States President Barack Obama beginning next month. Panetta, one of the top-most US intelligence officials, held a series of meetings with senior government officials including Union Home Secretary G K Pillai over the last one week which also were seen as a platform to further cement sharing of intelligence in tackling terrorism. During his meetings, including with his Indian counterpart Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief K C Verma and Intelligence Bureau head Rajiv Mathur, Panetta discussed cooperation between the two countries especially in the field of counter-terrorism and sharing intelligence. The two sides are understood to have discussed the issue of terrorism that continues to emanate from Pakistan and was threatening India as well as many other parts of the world. American embassy officials remained tightlipped on the visit of Panetta.
pRicE Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs 2.00) pages 16+8
Sports: Rafael Nadal upset in Thailand semis Pg 16
I was framed by cops: Mahanand heraLD rePOrTer PANJIM, OCT 2
Soon after the Sessions Court convicted him for rape charges, Goa’s notorious serial killer Mahanand Naik has blamed Goa Police of falsely implicating him in cases of rapes and murders. Speaking to news channel journalists outside the court premise, Naik alleged that police investigation teams were planting bones at spots to conduct panchanama in a case. “I was forcefully taken to various spots in the police jeep. These policemen were carrying bones enfolded in plastic bags and planted at the spots to conduct panchanama. A Ponda police sub-inspector is the brain behind planting these many cases,” he said. Presently in judicial custody, the ‘calculated killer ’ was brought to the Panjim District & Sessions Court from Sada subjail at Vasco, on Friday in the final judgment of a rape case filed by a 22-year-old Shiroda victim in April 2009.
Govt moots CWH for forest dwellers ShweTa KamaT PANJIM, OCT 2
The Goa government thinks that Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH) is the best way for fastest rehabilitation of forest dwellers who have been residing in wildlife sanctuaries for over 75 years. “This is an opportunity for them to get rehabilitated. Or else the rehabilitation process drags on for years,” a State Level Starring Committee (SLSC) member told Herald. At the same time, Forest Department officials fear that in absence of CWH, the ecological balance within the sanctuaries might be ruined. The claim is rubbished by environmentalists who say that for generations the forest dwellers have been living with the jungles in harmony. “If we don’t protect these sanctuaries under CWH now, then there is every possibility
that we might lose forests in near future,” the official said. However, the official was not in a position to explain why the State has failed to provide proper rehabilitation package to the forest dwellers since years, who number around 300 families in all the wildlife sanctuaries of the State. The process for declaring CWH which began at the State’s smallest wildlife sanctuary has hit a bitter note. The SLSC headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest Dr Shashi Kumar is facing several ‘issues’. Except for Bondla, in the rest of the places the SLSC is facing heat from the locals who feel that their rights would be encroached upon once CWH status is notified. A Senior Forest Department officer said that people’s worry is unwarranted. “All the claims
If we don’t protect these sanctuaries under CWH now, then there is every possibility that we might lose forests in near future. of the forest dwellers would be settled properly. Without settling their claims, the status cannot be notified,” he said. Goa’s Chorao and Bondla wildlife sanctuaries have no human settlements while rest except Bhagwan Mahaveer sanctuary, the settlements are scarce. For instance, there are five pockets in Cotigao wildlife sanctuary that contributes for 34 families. Bhagwan Mahaveer sanctuary has a major issue as entire Kalem village comprising around 200 families fall within its jurisdic-
Facebook helps traffic cops reach out, book offenders VIbha Verma PANJIM, OCT 2
They may not have much support when it comes to the streets but for sure on the Internet, the Goa Traffic Police are rocking. Against the view of Chief Minister Digamber Kamat that social networking websites are creating harassments, Goa’s Traffic Department has launched a Facebook profile to reach to the people. And in the process, they are also receiving lot of flak for their anti-people acts including allowing former Inspector General of Police K D Singh’s son go scot-free even after illegally driving and hitting his father’s official car. The Facebook account also has several people clicking the snaps of vehicles in the no parking zone, forcing the otherwise lax policemen to issue them challans. Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Arvind Gawas said that around 25 violators were issued challans after their pictures of traffic violation were uploaded on the Facebook page. The one-month old account named as ‘Goa Police traffic violation page’ gives liberty to the Facebook users to inform and upload any traffic violation within the State’s boundaries. Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi said that Facebook is being accepted well by citizens. “The use of Facebook social networking portal is indeed proving helpful in solving traffic related issues,” DGP told Herald.
After the increase in traffic violations, the gazetted senior police officers are already given powers, since last year, to write down the challan and send it to the traffic cell to dispatch notices to vehicle owners for traffic violations. SP Gawas claimed that the fresh initiative will help police nail down and regulate traffic violations as evidence by way of photographs can be uploaded on the facebook page. “Through community participation, even a citizen can report any traffic violation. Through evidence uploaded on the Facebook page, we forward the same to the notice branch from where the vehicle owners are challaned,” he said. The Facebook page titled ‘Aimed at seeking cooperation from community at curbing traffic violations’ has more than 500 people on its friends list including politicians, journalists and other Goan citizens. Besides, reporting traffic violations, the Goa Traffic Facebook page is flooded with suggestions, grievances and moreover funny posts. A lady citizen Aditi Angle Karapurkar has strongly suggested working out a strategy to deal with the problem of four wheelers being parked at twowheeler parking lots and viceversa. She lists down few points on September 4 like: “1: After 8.00 pm opposite Fidalgo...where 4 wheeler parking is extended upto the pavement… (there are atleast 10-12 cars) ... you can check it now (Continued on page 10)
tion. But the Forest Department officials say that this village can be carved out of the CWH as ‘there is no much wildlife in it.’ “Since this village has a huge population, it can be left out of CWH status,” official said. After Chorao, residents of Cotigao too has raised strong objection to the CWH status. However, the official said that the SLSC has full powers to go against public wish and declare the sanctuaries as CWH. It looks that the Union Forest Ministry is the only hope for these people as the final decision will be taken by it. The official said that if the ministry feels that the sanctuary does not need CWH status then it won’t be granted. “But we don’t feel that they will object as it is required to protect the forest,” official said. (Continued on page 10)
COUNTER CHARGES l
l l l
Police teams planted bones at spots to conduct panchanama. Taken to various spots in police jeep. Forced to confess what I never did. Confessions were recorded on camera.
He has been convicted of raping and threatening the girl, who incidentally was his wife’s friend. The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on Tuesday. With 18 cases of rape, murder, robbery and threatening cases booked against him, the 40-year-old killer has been acquitted in three cases. “What can one do in police custody? The police whacked me every time and use to dump me in the police van to take me to various spots. They forced to confess what I never did. The confessions were later recorded on camera,” he further alleged. The modus operandi of the accused was to lure young and
middle-age gullible girls with a bait of marriage. The unsuspecting girls would fall prey to his convincing talks, which occurred for around 15 years. On the fixed day, he would ask them to wear jewelries to impress his parents. He would however take them to secluded places and use their duppatta to strangulate them. The killer said that he was beaten with iron rods when he objected to police demands like when the police brought special statues to practice strangulation. “These statues were brought to the police station where I was asked to practice strangulation. When I refused, they hit me with (Continued on page 10)