log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 108 Instagram.com/thegoanonline SHUBMAN GILL TAKES CHARGE AS INDIA’S NEW ODI CAPTAIN >>8 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 CBC 15502/13/0032/2526 SUNDAY OCTOBER 5, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan MAGAZINE MAGAZ 09 Gold and silver buying in Goa sees cautious trend Churches of St. Michael in Goa: Faith and devotion Kissaten in the Konkan: When Japan met Goa over dessert Weight of an investigation does not rest upon the statement of the victim 11 IN SHORT >> SP South: Ronaldo’s arrival not confirmed PANAJI: Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly among the Al-Nassr FC players expected to face FC Goa in the AFC Champions League 2 match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on October 22. However, South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma clarified that Ronaldo’s arrival has not been officially confirmed. Surla ferry crew attacked, 2 held BICHOLIM: Two persons were arrested on Friday on charges of attacking a crew on a ferry at the Surla ferry wharf. According to police reports, the incident had taken place at about 8.50 pm on October 2 when the Ferry Boat ‘Chandor’ plying along the Volvoi-Surla ferry route had docked at the Surla ferry wharf to deboard passengers.  >> See pg 3 Reis Magos casino: MLA threatens stir PORVORIM: Saligao MLA Kedar Naik on Saturday warned of an agitation by villagers of Reis Magos if attempts are made to anchor an offshore casino vessel on the Reis Magos side of the Mandovi river.  >> See pg 3 RECOUNTS ASSAULT IN 6-PAGE STATEMENT, BUT DOESN’T NAME ZENITO OR POLITICAL LEADERS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the controversy over the assault on tribal activist Rama Kankonkar continues to stir political and social outrage, details from his six-page police statement reveal account of how he was attacked in broad daylight on September 18 -- allegedly by a group of men including history-sheeter Miguel Araujo -- but without any mention of a mastermind or politician. In his statement to the Panaji police, Kankonkar said the attack unfolded shortly after he and his friend Soiru Velip had lunch at a restaurant in Caranzalem. He indicated that the attack came just minutes after an unknown man, accompanied by a woman and child, clicked photographs nearby. Kankonkar however did not raise any suspicion. “At around 12:15-12:30 pm, a man, a woman, and a child KANKONKAR’S STATEMENT: IN HIS OWN WORDS „„I was attacked shortly after having lunch with my friend Soiru Velip at a restaurant in Caranzalem „„A man, woman, and child were sitting nearby; the man was taking photos in our direction but told me he was only photographing the menu „„After lunch, Soiru and I paid the bill and left the hotel were seated in front of us. The man started clicking pictures on his mobile phone while looking in our direction. He came to me saying he had not clicked our photo but only that of the menu. I ignored the matter and do not know who that person was. After having Tragic end to Belagavi family’s beach outing; 5 drown, 2 missing 1 RESCUED OFF SHIRODA NEAR GOA THE GOAN I NETWORK BELAGAVI A Belagavi family’s outing turned into a tragedy on Friday evening after five members drowned and two others went missing in the Arabian Sea near the Shiroda-Velgar Beach in Sindhudurg-Maharashtra. A 16-year-old girl was rescued and is reportedly safe. The family, hailing from Londa village in Khanapur taluka, had travelled to Maharashtra for a Dussehra holiday. Their picnic to the Shiroda-Velgar Beach, which is barely about 7 kms from Tiracol in Goa, turned fatal when eight of them entered the water and were caught off guard by the sea’s sudden depth. Within moments, the group began to struggle. Local police and disaster management teams rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations. By late evening, the bodies of three victims were recovered. They were identified as Farin Irfan The family, hailing from Londa village in Khanapur taluka, had travelled to Maharashtra for an outing on Dussehra holiday. Their picnic to the Shiroda-Velgar Beach, turned fatal when eight of them entered the water and were caught off guard by the sea’s sudden depth Kittur (34), Ibad Kittur (13), and Nameera Akter (16). Two more bodies were recovered later. Efforts to trace the remaining two missing family members are ongoing. Authorities said rescue operations would continue on Saturday with the help of coastal police and local volunteers. Police officials have appealed to the public to strictly follow safety advisories while visiting beaches, especially during festive holidays when crowds gather at coastal spots. in the six-page statement. Kankonkar also linked the September 18 incident to two previous attacks allegedly involving Minguel. “Miguel had attacked me earlier when I was out on bail in the Panaji Police Station (PS) crime case,” he recounted, adding, “Once, he and another person hit my car from behind at Bambolim and started arguing. On another occasion, men on a scooter rammed my car, Minguel showed me a knife, and another said, ‘Kaam ho gaya’ in Hindi.” He said he had gone live on social media during the second incident, which prompted bystanders to intervene and force the assailants to flee. A complaint was lodged at Agassaim PS, where police later identified those involved. Kankonkar told the police that the accused were trying to provoke him so that his bail would be revoked. „„While walking to my car, a person suddenly put his hand on my shoulder and pressed my neck „„Several others joined, hitting me with fists, cables, and chains while verbally abusing me „„One attacker hurled caste-based slurs, shouting, “Rakhandar tuch Goencho” „„I recognized one attack- er as Miguel (Araujo) and noticed another wearing spectacles „„They accused me of targeting an MLA, saying, “…amchea amdarachem nav ghan karta... Tuka ST portfolio zai” „„They tore my shirt, forced cow dung into my mouth, and I lost consciousness. They also stole my mobile phone and gold chain lunch, Soiru and I paid the bill and left the hotel,” he said, as The Goan accessed some extracts of the statement. But what followed moments later turned violent as Kankonkar recalled that while proceeding towards his car, a person emerged from nowhere, put his hand around his shoulder and pressed his neck. “He began punching me on my face and eyes. Two or three more persons joined him, hitting me repeatedly with fists, cables, and chains while abusing me in filthy language,” the activist said. He alleged that one of the attackers hurled caste-related 27-yr-old Indian student working at gas station in US shot dead Shah commends Mhaje Ghar Yojana, says scheme will be a boon for Goan families PTI HYDERABAD A 27-year-old Indian student has reportedly been shot dead in Dallas, US. Chandrashekar Pole, who was from Hyderabad, was working at a gas station when he was killed by an unidentified gunman. Pole had moved to the US in 2023 for higher studies after finishing his bachelor's in dental surgery back in Hyderabad. He completed his master's degree in the US six months ago and had been looking for a full-time placement while working part-time at the gas station. The student's family has sought the government's help in bringing back their son's body from the US. BRS MLA Sudhir Reddy and former minister T Harish Rao visited the student's home. Calling it "tragic", he urged the govt to take steps to bring back Pole's body back to his hometown. "The pain that the parents are going through, is no more, is heart-wrenching to witness," Rao said in an online post, extending condolences to the family. slurs, shouting, “Rakhandar tuch Goencho.” During the assault, he claimed to have recognised one of the men as Miguel (Araujo). “Another person was wearing spectacles. I can identify those who assaulted me,” he said, adding that one of them taunted him for allegedly targeting an MLA, saying, “...amchea amdarachem nav ghan karta... Tuka ST portfolio zai.’ 25 POLLS AHEAD: POLITICAL HEAT RISES IN GOA Kankonkar’s statement confirms The Goan report; Araujo named, but no mention of mastermind ON 20 >> SEE PG 2 O CT 3 , “They tore my shirt, and when I fell on the ground, they put cow dung in my mouth. I then lost consciousness. They also took my mobile phone and snatched the gold chain from my neck,” Kankonkar further alleged, with the police stating they are ascertaining claims made FORESEES ‘VIKASIT GOA’ WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hailed Goa government’s rapid progress, stating it is on the path to becoming a fully developed State in the next 10 years. “For over 15 years, since I have been visiting Goa, there has been a remarkable transformation in the State. The pace of development here is inspiring. By 2035–36, Goa will be a fully ‘Vikasit’ (developed) State, much before our vision for ‘Vikasit Bharat’ 2047,” he said. The union minister was addressing a large public gathering at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium after launching the Mhaje Ghar Yojana. Shah highlighted Goa’s achievements in infrastructure, human development and technology while also adding that Mhaje Ghar Yojana is a significant step in providing stability and dignity to Goan families. “This initiative is not mere- Kharge in line of Shah’s fire NEW BEGINNINGS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah gives a document to an elderly woman during the launch of Mhaje Ghar Yojana at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Taleigao on Saturday. (More photos on pg 5) Narayan Pissurlenkar Shah bats for swadeshi products PANAJI: Hailing the Central government’s GST 2.0, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged people to promote Indian-made goods this Diwali. “As urged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this Diwali, let us take a pledge to shun all foreign goods and bring home only those made in India. The biggest thing is to give impetus to our economy, to promote Make in India and to encourage people from all over the world to do business in India,” he said. ly a welfare scheme but a transformative initiative symbolising empowerment and reform under BJP governance. From tomorrow, several Goan families who were caught in PANAJI: Taking a swipe at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for calling Goa a small State, Shah said the remark belittled Goans only because BJP continues to win their mandate. “Kharge says Goa is a small State. I say, whether big or small, every person living here is an Indian citizen. Goa is a bindi on India’s forehead,” he remarked. He stated Goa operates the highest number of electric buses in the country, has over 650 registered startups and that the Rajya Sabha in August passed a Bill granting reservation to Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Assembly. 11 different types of legal issues over their houses will >Continued on P6 Severe cyclonic storm Shakhti E-com platforms under lens over extra COD charges THE POST THAT gains strength off Guj coast WENT VIRAL PTI WIND SPEED TOUCHES 100 KMPH; FISHERMEN WARNED PTI NEW DELHI Cyclone Shakhti, the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea, is churning up the sea, packing a wind speed of 100 kmph and gusting, officials said on Saturday. Shakhti, which has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, was moving further into the Arabian Sea and lay centered about 420 km away from Dwarka in Gujarat, the weather office said. It is likely to move west-southwestwards and reach the northwest and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea by Sunday, the India Meteorological Department said, adding Shakhti will recurve and move east-northeastwards from Monday morning, weakening gradually. Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast and the Pakistan coast until Sunday. The weather office has warned fishermen not to venture into the northwest Arabian Sea, adjoining areas of the northeast Arabian Sea, central Arabian Sea and along and off the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday. NEW DELHI he ministry of consumer affairs is looking into complaints of additional charges being levied by ecommerce platforms when customers choose cash-on-delivery (COD) option instead of paying while ordering items. 'The Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against ecommerce platforms charging extra for cash-on-delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers,' Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Con- T „„A user cited his concern about an extra Rs 226 COD charge from Flipkart „„The extra charge reportedly was broken down under various fees – “offer handling fee”, “protect promise fee”, and “payment handling fee” „„The irate customer sumer Affairs said. Hundreds of customers have lodged complaints on wrote, “Forget Rain Fee by Zomato / Swiggy / Zepto. See the masterstroke by Flipkart: Offer Handling Fee (for giving me the discount you advertised?), Payment Handling Fee (for letting me pay you?), and Protect Promise Fee (protecting me from what satisfaction?) social media against e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart for adding what they called “baseless fees” when they ordered something online. Many of them alleged that these companies are charging extra for cash-on-delivery (COD) orders, and are imposing high platform fees, especially during the festive sale. Joshi said that action would be taken against e-commerce platforms that charge extra fees for COD by misleading customers. Replying to the post, Joshis siad, “the Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against ecom- merce platforms charging extra for Cash-on-Delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers.” “A investigation has been initiated and steps are being taken to scrutinise these platforms closely. Strict action will be taken against those violating consumer rights, to ensure transparency and uphold fair practices in India’s growing e-commerce sector,” continued the minister in his post. Dark patterns are deceptive tactics used by companies to manipulate customers into paying extra without them realising it.