log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 112 Zilla Panchayats yet to receive powers envisaged under Constitution 2 GOA HC upholds Diocesan Society’s right to administer schools 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Can coffee and tea help reduce diabetes risk? 10 Taxi driver took robbers to Belagavi in private vehicle >> See PG 2 Goa yet to get extortion plaint app despite CM’s 2023 pledge Valanka appointed MAPUSA ROBBERY: FORENSIC TEAMS INSPECT GETAWAY CARS, TRACK LEADS ACROSS to FIFA women’s football committee M'RASHTRA, K'TAKA; OFFICIALS DECLINE TO SHARE DETAILS CITING CASE SENSITIVITY THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO: In a moment of national pride, Valanka Natasha Alemao, Chief Executive Officer of Churchill Brothers Football Club, has been appointed to the Women’s Football Development Committee of FIFA for the term 2026–2029. The decision was officially taken by the FIFA Council on October 2. With this appointment, Valanka becomes the first woman from India, and from Goa, to serve on a FIFA standing committee dedicated to the growth and development of women’s football worldwide. The committee plays a key role in shaping FIFA’s global women’s football strategies and initiatives. >> See pg 12  MAPUSA In the wake of the daring dacoity at Dr Ghanekar’s bungalow early Tuesday morning, Mapusa Police have intensified their investigation, focusing on the Goan taxi driver allegedly hired by the robbers to transport them to Belagavi after the heist. On Wednesday morning, the driver was brought to Mapusa Police Station and interrogated for over an hour. The forensic team also examined the car used to drop the robbers, seeking evidence that could help trace their movements. Sources revealed that the six robbers (as customers) had approached the driver, who operates a yellow and black taxi from Betim, to take them to Belagavi. When the driver expressed inability to use his taxi for the long trip, he offered to take them to his house in Old Goa, where they switched to his private vehicle to complete the journey to Be- WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 31 C 25 C 86% ROBBERS’ MODUS OPERANDI EVIDENCE UNDER SCRUTINY: The three vehicles used by the robbers in the daring Mapusa bungalow heist – Dr Ghanekar’s Alto, the yellow-and-black taxi and the taxi driver’s private car – are being examined by the forensic team at Mapusa Police Station. Ganeshpuri residents take security into their hands MAPUSA: Following the daring dacoity at the residence of Dr Ghanekar in Ganeshpuri-Mapusa, residents of the locality held a late-evening meeting to discuss measures to strengthen security and prevent such incidents in the future. Led by Ashish Shirodkar, President of Ganeshpuri Residents Society, the residents resolved to take proactive steps to safeguard the colony.  >> See pg 2 lagavi. After dropping them the driver returned to Goa by Tuesday noon. Meanwhile, late Wednesday evening, police patrolled Oppn says law and order in tatters; warns of rising crimes, police failure >> See pg 2 Ganeshpuri lanes, searching for clues and identifying potential CCTV footage that might have captured the robbers’ movements. Police remain puzzled over how all six robbers reached the bungalow, as they left the scene in one of the doctor’s vehicles. „„Six robbers approached the taxi driver as customers „„Switched from taxi to driver’s private vehicle in Old Goa „„Robbers left the bungalow in one of the doctor’s vehicles Two police teams were reportedly dispatched to border areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka in search of the accused. Senior officials have declined to share further details, citing the sensitive nature of the investigation. “The investigation is on. I have nothing more to disclose,” said DySP Wilson D’Souza, underscoring the cautious approach being adopted in the high-profile case. >Continued on P9 SPORTS Mooney's rescue act denies Pakistan historic win 14 Konkani proficiency now mandatory for postal recruitment Centre amends GDS eligibility; boosts local employment THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI It is now mandatory to know Konkani for Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) posts for the Goa postal circle. The Department of Posts of the government of India has amended the GDS eligibility, making proficiency in Konkani a mandatory requirement. In an Office Memorandum issued on October 7, Director GDS Ravi Pahwa said that the department has reviewed the list of local languages identified for the purpose of engagement of GDS in respect of post offices located in the State of Goa and accordingly the Postal Service Board has approved modification in the eligibility. Pahwa said that the candidates applying for GDS posts in post offices located in Goa must have studied Konkani or Marathi at the 10th standard level. “However, the candidates who have studied only Marathi, must also possess proficiency in Konkani,” he said. In case, where Konkani has not been studied till class 10th, the candidate proficien- RECRUITMENT CRITERIA „„Candidate must have studied Konkani or Marathi at the 10th standard level „„If the candidate has studied only Marathi, they must also possess proficiency in Konkani „„Candidates who have not studied Konkani up to Class 10 must produce a certificate of proficiency issued by the Goa Konkani Akademi or any government-authorised authority nominated by the State cy would be verified based on a certificate issued by Goa Konkani Akademi or any other government authorised authority, as nominated by the State for the purpose, he said. 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