log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JUNE 6, 2026 GOA Former Goan football greats meet India squad at HCI event in UK Goa, where development has stopped serving its people IN SHORT >> Fines of up to `1 cr for hill cutting PANAJI: In a major move aimed at curbing environmental degradation, the Town and Country Planning Board has decided to impose hefty penalties of up to Rs 1 crore on individuals and entities found involved in illegal hill cutting across the State. The decision was taken at a meeting of the TCP Board chaired by Minister Vishwajit Rane.  >> See pg 2 Unity Mall will be set up in Goa: CM PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday asserted that the proposed Unity Mall project will come up in Goa, despite its earlier proposed site at Chimbel being scrapped following protests by local residents. “Unity mall will happen in Goa, 100 %,” asserted Sawant. Over 9 crore sq mts proposed as NDZ PANAJI: More than 9.20 crore square metres of land across Goa has been proposed for classification as No-Development Zones, with the largest chunk, over 8.87 crore square metres -- comprising mangrove forests in Shiroda, Ponda. With these latest proposals, the total area earmarked for NDZ status by TCP has crossed 13 cr sq mtrs in just one month. >> See pg 2 Committee to audit NEET-UG centres PANAJI: South Goa District Administration has constituted a district-level committee to conduct physical audits of all NEET (UG) 2026 examination centres in the district, in compliance with directions issued by the National Testing Agency. The committee has been tasked with ensuring transparent, smooth, fair and secure conduct of NTA examinations. Union Minister to open CoP building PANAJI: A riverfront administrative building shaped like a ship and built at a cost of nearly Rs 48.87 crore is expected to become the latest symbol of Goa’s push to modernise its maritime infrastructure, as Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the facility in Panaji on June 8.   >> See pg 3 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 349 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 Days after viral video on garbage, boy ends life Rs 5-6 crore garden planned at Sonsodo’s former waste site Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA SC compliance drive on strays exposes gaps in local infrastructure When the clouds gather, gardeners get to work  22-YR-OLD SHOOTS HIMSELF  QUESTIONS OVER GROWING TREND OF SOCIAL MEDIA VIGILANTISM THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA A 22-year-old college student from Mapusa allegedly ended his life after finding himself at the centre of a social media storm that began with a viral video and culminated in police action, leaving family members devastated and raising troubling questions about public shaming in the digital age. Samuel Braganza, a thirdyear college student and resident of Gaunsavaddo, Mapusa, allegedly shot himself in the head with a pistol in the early hours of Friday. Police suspect that the young man may have been under severe emotional stress following the circulation of a video that purportedly showed him dumping garbage by the roadside and the subsequent registration of a criminal case against him. According to Sub-Divisional Police Officer Salim Shaikh, the incident occurred during the early hours of the day. Preliminary investigations indicate that Samuel may have CM orders inquiry into student’s death PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he has ordered a detailed inquiry into the death of an undergraduate student who allegedly shot himself hours after an FIR was registered against him over a garbage dumping incident at Gaunswaddo, Mapusa. Speaking to media, Sawant was asked whether the registration of an FIR was necessary for what was described as a roadside garbage dumping offence. In response, the Chief Minister reiterated that an inquiry has been initiated and that all aspects of the matter would be examined. taken the extreme step after experiencing significant emotional distress. The chain of events began on June 3 when a citizen allegedly recorded a video showing Samuel dumping waste at a public location. The video was widely circulated on social media platforms, drawing criticism and condemnation from members of the public. Acting on the viral footage, Mapusa Police registered a case against Samuel under Section 271 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act for allegedly creating a public health hazard. Police subsequently summoned him to the station on Thursday and served him a legal notice. Family members claim the young student struggled to cope with the public attention and humiliation that followed. According to relatives, the 6 LIFE person who recorded the video allegedly confronted Samuel at the spot, subjected him to intense questioning and reprimanded him despite his apologising for the act. "He was not only yelled at, but his bike keys were also taken away by the person shooting the video. The worst part was that the video was made viral, putting tremendous pressure on him," a family member said. The family further alleged that the pressure mounted after he was summoned to the police station. "If that ignominy was not enough, he was called to the police station, kept there for over four hours and later an FIR was lodged against him," the relative added. Police sources said a country-made pistol was allegedly used in the incident. Investigators are now focusing on how the weapon came into the family's possession. "The forensic team is at the site collecting evidence. We have not been able to question >Continued on P9 THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The death of a 22-year-old college student in Mapusa has triggered a wave of grief, anger and soul-searching across Goa, with many residents questioning not only the police action against him but also the larger civic and social systems that may have contributed to the tragedy. The young man, described by friends and neighbours as cheerful and full of life, allegedly died by suicide after a video purportedly showing him dumping garbage in a public place went viral on social media. The circulation of the video was followed by the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him by the Mapusa police. Ironically, the same social media platforms that amplified the video later became the stage for public outrage after news of his death emerged. The controversy has placed the police in a difficult position. No individual had formally complained Among those who lost their lives, 18 were riders (North Goa 6, South Goa 12), three were pillion riders (North Goa 2, South Goa 1), one was a pedestrian in North Goa, one was a passenger in South Goa, and one was categorised under “other” in North Goa. On the other hand, the Traffic Police’s “Accident Scenario, April 2026” report indicated the State recorded 851 accidents in April 2026. „„Criticism shifts from „„Some question whethstudent’s act to failures er public response, treatin governance, ment of student accountability were excessive DEATH „„Garbage „„Debate over THAT SHOOK social media problems in GOA’S Mapusa being shaming, reignored CONSCIENCE cording people publicly „„Civic author„„Residents ities blamed for warn viral videos can failing to provide waste seriously harm person’s disposal systems privacy, dignity „„Critics argue student may not have dumped „„Political leaders call for garbage if adequate more sensitivity, underfacilities existed standing about the alleged garbage dumping. However, after taking cognisance of the viral video, the police registered a complaint on their own and subsequently filed an FIR against the student. Following the student's death, criticism quickly shifted from the individual act to broader questions of governance, accountability and public shaming. Many residents argued that the focus should not be solely on the young man but also on the persistent garbage management problems in Mapusa. Pandurang Sawant, a trader in the Mapusa market, blamed civic authorities for failing to address the town's waste disposal challenges. "This is the failure of the Mapusa Municipal Council, >Continued on P9 Classrooms set to buzz today as schools reopen THE GOAN I NETWORK MISHAP DATA TOTAL ACCIDENTS: 217 FATA L 23 (North 9, South 14) GRI E V O U S 17 (North 7, South 10) MI N O R 58 (North 32, South 26) N O N - I N J U RY 119 (North 60, South 59) 14 Death triggers wave of grief, anger; questions raised over police action FATALITIES AMONG RIDERS HIGH PANAJI The State reported 217 road accidents, 24 resulting in the loss of lives and 119 non-injury accidents in the month of April. The monthly data released by the Transport Department shows a continued concentration of fatalities among riders. Of the total accidents, 23 were fatal, with North Goa accounting for nine cases and South Goa 14. Grievous accidents stood at 17 (North Goa 7, South Goa 10), while 58 were classified as minor accidents (North Goa 32, South Goa 26). A further 119 cases were non-injury accidents. In terms of casualties, 24 persons died in road crashes -10 in North Goa and 14 in South Goa. The report also recorded 22 grievously injured persons (North Goa 9, South Goa 13) and 89 with minor injuries (North Goa 45, South Goa 44). Transitioning India face Afghanistan in crucial Test examination Did viral video and FIR push him over the edge? April turns deadly as mishaps claim 24 lives: Dept data THE GOAN I NETWORK SPORTS RAIN RUSH: Tourists and locals rush for cover as heavy rains lashed Panaji on Friday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Monsoon makes entry into Goa, yellow alert till June 9 RELIEF FROM HEAT, TEMPERATURE DROPS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Southwest Monsoon made its onset over Goa, albeit in some parts, on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa issuing a yellow alert warning of moderate rainfall, thunder- storms and gusty winds till June 9. The monsoon's arrival comes after a brief delay. While the normal date for monsoon onset over Goa was June 1, the system had been expected to reach the state 2-3 days after its arrival in Kerala. However, after the monsoon finally reached Kerala on June 4 -- nearly nine days behind schedule -- it advanced rapidly and entered Goa the very next day. The IMD on Thursday confirmed that the Southwest Monsoon had further >Continued on P9 PANAJI Schools across Goa are set to reopen on Saturday after the month-long summer vacation, with students returning to classrooms amid the arrival of the southwest monsoon in the State. In a coincidence that many associate with the start of the academic season, the monsoon officially set over Goa on Friday, just a day before schools reopen. The onset of rains has added to the excitement, even as parents and students made last-minute preparations for the academic year. Markets across the State witnessed a surge in activity over the past week, with stationery shops, bookstores, uniform outlets and footwear stores reporting brisk business as families rushed to complete school shopping ahead of reopening. Director of Education Shailesh Zingade said stu- ZINGADE SPEAK „„Saturday attendance likely at 50–60% „„Attendance may touch 90% from Monday „„Migrant labourers’ kids may return late „„Many families still outside Goa „„Full return expected in 1–2 weeks dents are looking forward to returning to school after the vacation and expressed confidence that attendance would improve steadily over the coming days. “The students are excited to join classes. Since the reopening falls on a Saturday, attendance may be around 50 to 60 per cent. However, we expect it to rise to nearly 90 per cent from Monday,” Zingade said. >Continued on P9 Ebola fear: Sudanese hospitalised Govt slashes taxes for overseas investors to rescue Re in H’bad, Ugandan girl in Jaipur PTI GOVT STEPS UP SCREENING AT AIRPORTS PTI HYDERABAD A Sudanese national with fever was admitted to the staterun Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, taking the total number of Ebola-related admissions at the facility to two, officials said on Friday, while a 19-yearold woman from Uganda has been admitted to a government hospital in Jaipur after showing symptoms similar to Ebola virus infection. The Sudanese national, a student in his 20s, was referred to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on Thursday evening from a private health facility, they said. The student's condition improved, and he had no fever on Friday morning. His attendant was advised to stay in isolation at home. Earlier, another Sudanese national, aged 35, who arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Thursday, was shifted to the isolation ward of Gandhi Hospital for further tests after he was found to have a fever during thermal screening at the airport. The 35-year-old, who had come to Hyderabad for knee surgery, had no fever as of Friday morning and was asymptomatic, officials said. Test reports of both individuals are awaited. The Telangana government has set up a special isolation ward with 10 beds at Gandhi Hospital for Ebola cases. Last month, the Hyderabad Airport issued an advisory stating that it was implementing enhanced public health preparedness measures in accordance with directives from the DGCA. NEW DELHI he government exempted foreign investors from income tax on interest earnings and capital gains from government securities as it looked to attract foreign capital to counteract pressure on the rupee. The government promulgated an ordinance to amend the Income Tax Act to provide tax exemptions on interest income and capital gains arising from sale, exchange or transfer of government securities, effective from April 1, according to a gazette notification dated June 5. The exemption applies to foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and the Bank for Inter- T RBI holds rates, oil shock clouds outlook NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday kept its benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, as expected, and announced a raft of measures to attract foreign capital and support the rupee amid growing risks to growth and inflation from the prolonged West Asia conflict, elevated energy prices and global supply-chain disruptions. To support the rupee, the measures included national Settlements (BIS), subject to prescribed information-reporting requirements. Foreign investors are subject to a long-term capital gains tax of 12.5 per cent on scrapping taxes on interest income and capital gains for eligible foreign investors in government securities, offering concessional terms for foreign-currency deposits from non-resident Indians and subsidising hedging costs for select offshore borrowings. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to leave the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, and continue with its “neutral” stance. listed shares and bonds held for more than 12 months. They also pay a withholding tax of 20 per cent on interest earned on government bonds. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced a series of measures aimed at attracting foreign capital and strengthening external financing buffers as global uncertainty and elevated energy prices weigh on emerging markets. The central bank expanded the universe of government securities eligible under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) by including all new issuances of 15-year, 30-year and 40-year sovereign bonds. The RBI also removed restrictions on short-term investments, concentration limits and individual security limits for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) investing through the General Route. RBI measures, coupled with tax exemptions announced on investments in govt securities, are expected to support foreign participation in India's sovereign debt market and facilitate government borrowing.