Jail guard suspected of supplying drugs to Israeli under-trial
PANJIM: The lid has almost been ripped of another major drug scandal involving the police and jail staff, with the discovery of an Israeli under-trial prisoner under the influence of cocaine, in the Panjim judicial lockup. The lockup is housed inside the Goa police headquarters. (Peter de Souza & Preetu Nair)

Tragic accident on Mandovi bridge
PANJIM: A motorcycle rider was seriously injured while the pillion rider was flung into the Mandovi river in a tragic mishap here on January 13 at around 10 pm. According to the police, the incident occurred when the motorcycle driven by one Mithun Harikanta of Panaji collided against an oncoming Fiat car driven by one Vishwas Mahatme on the Mandovi bridge. The impact was so great the the pillion rider was thrown into the Mandovi river. Till late night, police and fire brigade personnel were still searching for the person thrown in the river. (GT)

Release of
THE PARISH CHURCHES OF GOA
PANJIM: This amazing book covering the architecture of the numerous churches that dot the towns and villages of Goa, was released by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao last week here. Jose Lourenco's book with beautiful photographs of 158 churches clicked by Pantaleao Fernandes contains a brief history and other useful information. The architectural study examines the Neo-Roman influence on these edifices in the Mannerist, baroque and Roccoco styles. It is for the first time that all the church of Goa have been documented for the first time, and the Archbishop lauded the author for his labour of love. Deputy Chief Minister, who also graced the function at the Bishop's Palace, Altinho, said that the book should reach all the Goans, particularly overseas, and hence the Tourism department headed by him has provided financial support for the publication. (DGNC)

Curca locals foil CCP garbage plans again
PANJIM, Jan 13: The imbroglio over Panjim's solid waste continues with residents of Curca today foiling plans of the Corporation of the City of Panjim that proposed to transport a part of its wet waste for the purpose of treating the same at Curca this morning. Alert residents of Curca gathered at the site on Thursday night and kept vigil till Friday noon preparing to block CCP vehicles that were scheduled to arrive at the site at 11 am. On receipt of the said information, the CCP suspended its plans immediately. The local MLA Francis Silveira was learnt to have sought government intervention to stop the CCP from executing its plans today. (H)

Petrol pumps may go dry by evening
PANAJI: Jan 13: Petrol pumps in Panaji and Mapusa are facing the threat of going dry by tomorrow evening as a fallout of the tanker operators strike entering the third day and two operating tankers, operating despite the stir call, being stoned at Curti, in Ponda and at Old Goa. (NT)

Neri case: Dhond,Tanavade granted anticipatory bail
PANJIM, JAN 13: The Panjim Bench of the Bombay High on Friday set aside the order of the Additional Sessions Court (ASC), Mapusa cancelling the anticipatory bail of BJP general secretary Satish Dhond and party’s Tivim MLA Sadanand Shet Tanavade in the Filipe Neri Rodrigues signature forgery case. The High Court has also reprimanded State government and police for the way in which they conducted the investigation. (H)

Rave frenzy grips Pernem coastline
PERNEM, JAN 13: Rave parties have continued to vibrate Pernem’s fragile coastline with alarming frequency and those opposed to these nocturnal events are not restricted to locals alone. Foreigners who reside along the many rooms dotting the coastal belt have complained that little is being done either by the government or the police to stop these parties. “In fact, there were many rave parties during the Christmas season,” a foreigner said. “There were rave parties continuously between December 30 and January 1.” (H)

MMC draws Rs 1,03,590 from revenue collection drive
MARGAO: Jan 13: The revenue collection drive of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) finally began today with Rs 1,03,590 coming into the municipal coffers.The MMC chairperson, Ms Piedade Noronha revealed that the drive finally took off at 9 a.m. under the newly formed team, which went around ward number 13 of the municipality during the morning hours. The drive came to a halt at noon as most shops were found closed between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (NT)

Stop ferrying coal by road: Willy
PANAJI: Jan 13: Dr Wilfred de Souza, the Deputy Chief Minister who is also the Environment Minister, has warned the companies importing coal as well as the Mormugao Port Trust that transportation of coal through road would not be allowed by the state authorities, as it was causing environment pollution. (NT)

Where is your compassion, Your Excellency
SALELI: Governor SC Jamir went to Saleli with promises and an appeal to withdraw the agitation. However, promises made in the storm by the Governor seem to be comfortably forgotten, once calm settled in. It is six days since Jamir left the village with a promise that he would take up the matter with the State government and ensure that normalcy is restored in the village, but nothing has changed for the families. The villagers, who hang together and feed on hope, are disillusioned by the promises made by the Governor, who had come to the village on his own volition 'as a concerned Governor of the people who feels for the people'. (Preetu Nair, GT)

81.52% Goan voters have photo IDs
NEW DELHI, UNI, Jan 13: More than 42 crore electors - almost 71 per cent of India's eligible voters - have been provided with photo identity cards by now, an official statement said. The coverage status is 81.52 per cent for Goa. (NT)

Two-day Goa youth festival begins today at Pilar
PANAJI, Jan 13: The 2-day 11th Goa Youth Festival 2006 organised by the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and Fr Agnel Family, Pilar, will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane, at Jacinto Vaz Nagar, Pilar, on January 14. The festival aims at providing encouragement as well as platform to the talent of the youth, especially those from the rural areas. The festival will comprise of various competitive activities like traditional Goan dance, solo singing, street play, Rangoli, jugalbandi of traditional Goan musical instruments, elocution, mime, trio, Konkani pop, etc. (NT)

Chinchinim rivulet polluted
MARGAO, Jan 13: The rivulet near the Chinchinim junction appeared contaminated as thick black film enveloped the water since the last three days. It could not be ascertain how the water has turned blackish in colour even as locals suspects that a tanker might have discharged liquid in the rivulet. (H)

Faith in St Anthony
Nestled within the green bowl that is Siolim, is the Church of St Anthony. With a strength of over 7,000 parishioners, the Church administers to a large section of the population of Siolim. Before the Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation of the Persecuted was elevated to a church, a little more than a quarter of a century ago, the present Tropa parish also belonged to this parish. (Olympio Almeida, GT)

O' COQUEIRO receives unexpected guest
PANAJI, Jan 12: O'Coqueiro restaurant, Alto Porvorim, received a surprise visitor during the New Year celebrations recently. Retired ACP Madhukar Zende of Mumbai Police, who was responsible for the sensational arrest of notorious criminal Charles Sobraj twice, the first time was at Delhi in 1971 and then at O'Coqueiro on April 6, 1986. Mr Zende, who was attending his son's marriage in Goa on December 29, 2005, made it a point to visit O' Coqueiro and was himself surprised to find Charles Sobhraj (statue) sitting there, waiting to be caught. (NT)

Blue Dart offers tracking via SMS
PANJIM: Blue Dart, South Asia's largest integrated air express, courier and logistics company, announced the launch of an upgraded version of Mobile Dart, a unique SMS-based service that enables customers to track their shipments via SMS from anywhere in the country. (H)

12 Jan: Colvale, Chicalim: BENEDICT FERNANDES; Husband of Mary, father of Michael/Idina, Herman/Geraldine and Gregory/Savia.
13 Jan: Cansaulim: ROSALIE GRACE PINTO (BABY): Wife of late Gracious, mother of Glenn/Shanti.
13 Jan: Agassaim-Malvora: FELECIDADE DA CUNHA: Relict of late Cornelio, mother of Rosie/late Marcus, late Ursula/Roque, Laura/Cruz, George/Hilda.
13 Jan: Curtorim-Monzon: ALEX GONSALVES (MAUXIBHAU): Husband of Veronica, father of Jennifer, Meadsilia/Ryan Rodrigues, Hazel/Pawan Sharma, late Elvis.