GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 21 January, 2005 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "Axea soddinaka. Sabar pavtti gonsantli nimanni chavi talem ugoddta." Don't be discouraged. It is often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.) "domnic fernandes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
DOCTOR'S FAMILY IN A STATE OF PANIC: Dr Shirkant Verenkar's last rites were performed on Wednesday (Jan 19). But even before his ashes have grown cold, his daughter, the wife of the prime suspect Ryan Fernandes, fears for the safety of her family and her children. Meeting her was impossible and access to the family was denied. She is reported to have told her mother and her close relatives, "I made one mistake (marrying Ryan) and lost everything." (GT) SON-IN-LAW CONFESSES: The deputy inspector general of police, Mr Muktesh Chander, today (Jan 20) informed that Ryan Rudolf Fernandes, the son-in-law of Dr Vernekar, has confessed to doctor's murder. Mr Chander said that Fernandes got Dr Verenkar killed because the doctor had filed a case against him at the Vasco police station.When the culprits dragged the doctor into the van, he started shouting. And to shut his mouth, the culprits gagged the doctor. The physician breathed his lat within 2-3 minutes of gagging. (NT) THREE MORE ARRESTED: The Vasco police have arrested Francis D'Sa (42), a resident of Agassaim and Sachin Parab (30), Rajan Singh (25), both residents of Porvorim for allegedly murdering Dr Shrikant Verenkar on 17 January. Prime accused and son-in-law of Dr Verenkar, Ryan Fernandes, was arrested in Mumbai on 19 January. (GT) THE GOOD DOCTOR IS 'OUT': The sign on the door of the consulting room at the Damodar Hospital and Research Centre is a poignant reminder of Monday's tragedy. It simply says, "The Doctor is out". From all accounts, Dr Verenkar was the sort of man that everybody loved to meet. He would tend to his patients with the kind of care that could only come from a man who loved his work. Almost everybody has some kind of fond memory of the good doctor. (GT) CROWD OUTSIDE VASCO COURT DISAPPOINTED: The murder of prominent Vasco-based doctor Shrikant Verenkar evoked such public outcry, that a large crowd - many of them curious onlookers - gathered outside the court premises right from 10 am on January 20, to have a glimpse of Ryan Fernandes, prime accused in the abduction and murder of his father-in-law Dr Verenkar. The crowd dispersed at about 11 am after the disappointed onlookers were informed that Fernandes was produced at the residence of the Vasco JMFC Vincent D'Silva, before being remanded to 14-day police custody. (H) LIFE AND TIMES OF RYAN: According to reliable sources, Ryan Fernandes, accused of kidnapping and murdering his father-in-law, led a flamboyant lifestyle. "Anchor Marine Services", his company would offer services to seamen for processing Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDCs) for a hefty price, besides other shipping related services. Anchor Marine Services, which operated from the second floor of Durga Apartments, opposite Xavier Centre, Porvorim, ran aground and earned a bad name. (GT) SALDANHA SEEKS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION TO BOOST TOURISM: The Tourism Minister, Mr Matanhy Saldanha, has stressed on the contribution by the private entrepreneurs for completing the government endeavour in improving the tourism sector. Mr Saldanha, who earlier released a booklet brought out by the Department of Tourism tiled "Standard Cultural Guide of Goa", during a special function in the city, said that this group could help the government in its various projects like setting up museums in the rural areas. (NT) NO DECISION ON "RIVER PRINCESS": While rumours are in circulation that a UK-based salvage company has been awarded the tender, Director of Tourism Elvis Gomes has categorically denied that any tenders have been awarded. However, investigations carried out by Herald have revealed that the Department of Tourism has started some preliminary work for the removal of the "MV River Princess". Inquiries have revealed that the Department of Tourism has sent a notice to four shack owners (at Candolim), to shift their shacks from their existing sites in order 'to avoid any danger to the life of any visiting tourist beach goers and public in general as the area was needed for the removal of the grounded MV River Princess'. (H) BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP: Whether it is the Ramponkar, Magkar, Kantaikar, Pagelkar or Arrikar, the depleting stock of fish in Goan waters has the state's entire traditional community worried stiff. "The amount of fish we net is becoming lesser by the day. In 1970 the catch used to be so bountiful, that we sold a cartful of mackerels for just Rs.10. Each cart would hold about 3000 mackerels," informs Caridade Mascarenhas from Morjim. "Even the quality of the fish is pathetic. Nowadays we only get sardines, mackerels and rarely some prawns." (Alister Miranda in GT) MINOR GIRL SEXUALLY ASSAULTED: The minor girl, who was kidnapped from Baina, has been found sexually abused by the alleged accused Sushil Kumar Verma (22), who was arrested by the Vasco police, on January 19. He was arrested on charges of kidnapping the 13-year-old girl. (NT) RAPE ACCUSED GETS BAIL: The Childrens' Court on January 20 granted bail to one Agostinho Gama of Sirvodem-Navelim, who was arrested by Colva police in connection with the rape of a minor girl. (H) BAR CODING SYSTEM FOR SSC EXAM: The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education will introduce a full-fledged bar-coding and scanning system for the answer-papers at the summer SSC examination to be held from April 1 to 13. (NT) RAID ON TRAFFIC COPS: The vigilance department in a surprise raid conducted this morning on the traffic police interceptor on the highway managed to catch two police personnel red-handed as they had more money on their person than they could account for. (NT) BJP STAGES DHARNA: Condemning the attitude of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha in meting out shabby treatment to the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt His Holiness Jayendra Saraswati, the BJP activists held a dharna at Mapusa on January 20 protesting against the insult to the revered seer. (GT) BIRTH RECORD BOOKS CRY FOR SAFETY: The avowed objective was to do away with the acute congestion at the old premises. But, while one may not find the new office congested anymore, there appears no adequate space left to house valuable records and documents in the record room. There's still no proper place to house documents and records in Salcete Sub-Registrar's office. (H) PARRIKAR, JAMIR GREET MUSLIM BRETHREN: The Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Governor SC Jamir have extended their warm greetings to the people of Goa on the occasion of Id-Ul-Zuha, to be celebrated on 21 January. (GT) SCHEME FOR RURAL GARBAGE DISPOSAL: The Directorate of Panchayat has come up with a novel scheme called 'Rural Garbage Disposal Scheme 05' to address the mega issue of garbage disposal in rural areas. The scheme which is launched from January 21 ensures collection, transportation, segregation, professing and disposal of garbage in the panchayat areas, wherein government will bear 98 per cent of the cost during the initial three years of introduction of the scheme, while balance 2 per cent expenses will be the responsibility of the designated village panchayats. (H) CBCI DEMANDS ENQUIRY: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has demanded an enquiry into the controversial VCD on Goa's Freedom struggle that distorted history and depicted the Catholic Church in a bad light. (GT) HOTMIXING OF TALEIGAO ROADS: The public works department (Div II), Panaji, will take up hotmixing of roads in Taleigao constituency shortly. The public in general and the authorities such as BSNL, MTNL, Tata Teleservices, Reliance, etc, who are desirous of cutting the roads for the purpose of water connection, laying of underground cables, etc, are requested to do so by obtaining proper permission. No road cutting permission will be given once the hot-mixing is started on these roads. (NT) CERTIFICATE COURSE IN MEDICAL LAW: The Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law, Margao, is launching certificate course in medical law and ethics from January 31 to February 5. The principal of the college, Mr AS Nadkarni, informed that the course is tailor-made for working professionals as well as students. (NT) RAJ BHAVAN ILLUMINATION ON JAN 26: The façade of Raj Bhavan and the gardens will be illuminated on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26, 2005. The people are invited to come and see the illumination from 7.15 pm to 9 pm on January 26. Entry into the buildings is, however, not allowed. For security reasons, the people are requested not to bring handbags, briefcases, cameras, digital diary, arms and ammunition, etc. (NT) BAN MOBILES IN SCHOOLS: ABVP: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad passed a resolution at its State conference demanding total ban on use of cellular phones in education institutions. (H) IN AID OF TSUNAMI VICTIMS: The late maestro Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki's son, Shounak Abhisheki, will give vocal performance along with Devki Pandit at Kala Academy on 26 January at 10.30 am. The proceeds of the concert will be transferred to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund in aid of the tsunami-hit victims. (GT) TIATR "THIKANN": A broken marriage, murder of wife by her paramour, and finally murder of paramour and subsequent death of the husband - that's exactly what "Thikann" is all about, written and directed by Christopher Menezes (Comedian 64) and staged by Kris Nirmiti, Divar, in Kala Academy's open air auditorium on January 20. (Gilbert D'Mello in Herald) 30TH STATE ART EXPO: The 30th State Art Exhibition for students category of the Kala Academy will be organized at the art gallery, Campal, Panaji, from February 10 to 15. The works will include painting or graphic prints, applied art, graphic design and sculpture. SAXOPHONIST BOVEY TO PERFORM: Internationally renowned saxophonist Scott Bovey will perform live at Jazz House, Candolim, today. Bovey, who boasts of having shared the stage with the likes of Shriley Bassey, Diana Ross and Frank Sinatra, will play with local musicians. (GT) SHARMILA KAMAT GET PHD: Ms Sharmila Kamat, member of the Friends of Astronomy (Goa), and senior lecturer in Physics, Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Panaji, recently earned the PHD degree in experimental particle astrophysics from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, for her thesis entitled "Extending the sensitivity to the detection of WIMP dark matter with an improved understanding of the limited neutron backgrounds". Ms Kamat's research concentrated on the search for weakly interacting massive particles believed to make up most of the dark matter in the Universe. (NT) S P O R T S FRANSA SNATCH POINT FROM EAST BENGAL: Debutants Fransa Pax Football Club putting up brilliant display held defending champions East Bengal to a goalless draw to split points in the ONGC 9th National Football League at Fatorda on January 20. (GT) VANDANA STARS FOR GU: Vandana D'Cruz's brace helped Goa University enter the fourth round of all-India inter-university women's football with a 2-0 win over MG University Kottayam, in Gwalior. In the second round, GU trounced Nagpur University 2-0. (NT) D E A T H S 17 Jan: Fatorda: CAETANO ROSARIO REBELLO (Ex-Nairobi, East African Railways); born on 12-6-1916; husband of Maria Angelica; father of Fr Tony svd, late Roque/Servita (London), Anna/late Ignatius (Canada), Lira/Warren (London); grandpa of Darryl, Charlene, Cheryl, Daphne, Stephen and Ashley. Funeral: 21 Jan at 4 pm, to Our Lady of Rosary Church Fatorda. 20 Jan: Xeldem: ANASTASIA DINIZ; daughter of late Pedro Caitan/Laurana; sister of Luciana and late Rosalina. 20 Jan: Santa Cruz: ROSA MARIA DIAS SAPECO; wife of late Sebastiao, mother of Virginia/late Miguel and Pascoal/Candida. G O A W E A T H E R Max Temp: 30.7 degC; Min Temp: 16.7 degC; Relative Humidity: 81%. Weather: Fine weather this morning in Goa. Courtesy: NT = The Navhind Times; GT = Gomantak Times; H = Herald; WE = Week ender Joel D'Souza Assagao, Goa, India.