log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY JUNE 24, 2024 GOA 55 detained in drive against anti-socials PANAJI: In a significant crackdown on anti-social elements and criminal activities, the Mapusa police conducted a special drive resulting in the detention of 55 individuals. The police also carried out 127 tenant verifications as part of the operation ensuring that the rental accommodations in the area comply with legal requirements.  >> See pg 3 52% vote in Benaulim zilla p’yat by-poll MARGAO: By-election for the Benaulim Zilla panchayat seat witnessed a 52.12 per cent turnout on Sunday, sealing the fate of the four candidates. Counting of votes will be taken up on Monday and the results are expected by noon.  >> See pg 2 Farmers oppose land lease termination PANAJI: Goa Dairy farmers have objected to the termination of lease of around one lakh sq mts land of cattle feed plant at Curti, Ponda by the government. The land was leased out to Goa Dairy in 1984 for a period of 90 years. Duo arrested with ganja at Fatorda PANAJI: Two persons were arrested with drugs worth Rs 1.10 lakh. The accused -- Abdul Nahim was found in possession of 1.10 kg ganja while the other Izaz Shaikh was found in possession of 60 grams. They were nabbed near Durga petrol pump at Fatorda. Kejriwal moves SC against HC order NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s interim stay on a trial court’s order granting him bail in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam. >> See pg 7 Two CRPF jawans killed in IED blast SUKMA: Two personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force’s jungle warfare unit CoBRA were killed after Maoists blew up a truck with an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgah’s Sukma district on Sunday, the police said. WEATHER >> Max: 31.5 C Min: 25.3 C Humidity: 86% TIDES Low: High: 05.51 13.07 18.52 23.50 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 7 Cong stares at uncertain future in Benaulim after tie-up with INDI Alliance IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Industry laps up Goa Carbon’s new product, scrip zooms 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Home remedies to combat grey hair 10 SPORTS England thrashes USA to enter T20 World Cup semis Assagao shocker: Bouncers raze Goan family’s house Nearly 50% opt out of NEET-UG re-examination  FATHER, SON ABDUCTED & RELEASED AFTER 5 HOURS POLICE INACTION RAISES EYEBROWS  INCIDENT SPARKS OUTRAGE NTA says out of 1,563 students who were given grace marks only 813 took the re-test THE GOAN I NETWORK AGENCIES MAPUSA In a shocking incident that unfolded in the peaceful village of Assagao on Saturday afternoon, at least 10 bouncers, accompanied by earthmoving machinery, allegedly demolished the residence of a local Goan family in what appears to be an act of intimidation. The incident has sparked outrage among the residents, especially as Anjuna police reportedly stood as silent spectators during the unlawful demolition. The series of events began around 2.30 pm when a group of unknown individuals, including both men and women, arrived with a JCB earthmover at the property of Pradeep Agarwadekar in Bhairo Alto, Assagao. Agarwadekar claimed that he and his family have resided at the location for the past 25 years. Under the direction of the bouncers, the JCB operator Police file case for abduction, property damage The residential house in Bhairo Alto, Assagao that was partially demolished on Saturday.  Agnelo Pereira began demolishing the house, despite protests from the family. Witnesses report that no legal procedures were followed, and the Agarwadekar family had not been served any notice regarding the demolition. The Anjuna police arrived NEP: Environmental studies for Class IX to kick off from July THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a first, teachers will commence teaching ‘environmental studies’ to students of Class IX in schools across Goa from next week as part of the introduction of the new National Education Policy (NEP) based school education system. Environment studies is one of several topics to be covered under ‘inter-disciplinary’ area, one of the three new subjects that the NEP has introduced for the Secondary Stage (Class IX to XII). This year, however, the NEP is being implemented only for students of class IX as per the government’s decision. According to Education Secretary, Prasad Lolayenkar, IAS, everything is set to launch teaching of ‘environment studies’ in schools from next week (July 1). Earlier, when the There are three new subjects introduced for Class IX under the new National Education Policy regime -- inter-disciplinary area, vocational and art  government took the decision to implement NEP in the first of the four-year Secondary stage (Class IX) it was announced that actual teaching of new subjects will commence only in August after adequate training is provided to the teachers. There are three new subjects introduced for class IX under the new NEP regime -inter-disciplinary area, vocational and art.  Instructional activity will now commence in environment studies next week and it is just one of at least halfa-dozen topics which will be covered by the ‘inter-disciplinary’ subject.  at the scene after receiving information about the incident, eventually halting the demolition, but not before significant damage had been done to the house. In a disturbing turn of events, Pradeep Agarwadekar and his son were allegedly ab- ducted by the bouncers. According to Agarwadekar, they were forcibly pushed into a car and driven around for several hours. Their mobile phones were switched off, leaving their family in distress. >Continued on P7 MAPUSA: Anjuna Police registered a case late Sunday evening against Pooja Sharma and several unidentified individuals for abduction and property damage following a complaint by Prinsha Pradeep Agarwadekar. The police have charged Sharma and others under Sections 365 (abduction) and 427 (damage to property) read with Sec 34 of IPC. According to the complaint, Sharma and unknown accomplices damaged their house and abducted her husband and son. Police sources indicate while Sharma has all legal documents to prove her ownership, she resorted to illegal methods to evict the current occupants, staying as caretakers. NEW DELHI  Forty-eight per cent of students who were scheduled to retake the NEET-UG on Sunday did not turn up, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said in a statement. After a Supreme Court order, 1,563 students who were given grace marks were eligible to take the retest today, the NTA said. Of the total, 813 (52 per cent) gave the retest and 750 skipped, shows data released by the NTA. The NTA had opened exam centres in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Meghalaya and Chandigarh, a Union Territory. The retest was conducted following an order from the Supreme Court. The grace marks were awarded to make up for the loss of time at six centres where the examination started late on May 5. Amid a raging row over alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam, the NTA on Sunday debarred 17 US FDA inspects Cipla’s plant in Goa, makes six ‘observations’ THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After barely managing to tide over the storm following the backlash to the out-of-State recruitment drives, members of Goa’s highly successful pharma sector has yet another predicament to tackle -- meeting best practices’ standards in manufacturing processes -- what with the US drug controller flagging issues in Goa based plants of some major players. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) inspected the manufacturing facility of pharma major Cipla Ltd at the Verna industrial estate and issued the company six “inspection observations” which it documented in ‘Form 483’. The inspections were conducted over eleven days between June 10-21, the company itself announced in a regulatory filing to Indian stock markets’ regulator SEBI.  >Continued on P7 Poor lifestyle fuelling cancer cases: Docs AGENCIES NEW DELHI oor lifestyle choices with regular consumption of ultra-processed food, and a sedentary lifestyle are increasing cancer cases among people under 40 years in India, said doctors. Several factors are contributing to the rise in cancer cases among younger people. One of the primary reasons is increased consumption of processed foods, tobacco, and alcohol, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and stress. Environmental pollution is another critical factor. India’s cities are plagued by high levels of pollution, which has been linked to various types of cancer. Air and water pollution expose individuals to carcinogenic substances, significantly P 12 CANCER: CAUSE AND EFFECT „„Increased consumption of processed foods, tobacco, alcohol, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, stress primary reasons „„Environmental pollution also another critical factor „„India’s city pollution linked to various types of cancer „„Air & water pollution also expose individuals to increasing their cancer risk. “Ultra-processed foods and sedentary lifestyles are emerging as significant contributors to the rising cancer rates among young Indians. “The high intake of these foods, laden with unhealthy additives, combined with carcinogenic substances „„20% cases in India are in people below 40 years „„Men constitute 60%, while women make up remaining 40% physical inactivity, is creating a health crisis,” Dr Rahul Bhargava, Director and head of the Department of Haematology and BMT at Fortis Memorial Research Institute said. “It’s imperative to adopt healthier dietary habits and an active lifestyle to curb this alarming trend,” he added. According to a recent study by Cancer Mukt Bharat Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit foundation, 20 per cent of cancer cases in India are now being diagnosed in people below 40 years of age. The study shows that men constitute 60 per cent of these young cancer patients, while women make up 40 per cent. The gender disparity may be due to higher rates of tobacco use, occupational exposure, and lifestyle choices. “In our country, escalating rates of obesity, change in dietary habits, specifically the increase in consumption of ultra-processed food, and sedentary lifestyles are associated with higher cancer rates,” said Dr Ashish Gupta, principal investigator and senior oncologist at Unique Hospital Cancer Center, Delhi said. Supported By NEET-UG row: CBI files FIR NEW DELHI: The CBI filed an FIR on Sunday in connection with alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG held on May 5 on a reference from the Union education ministry, amid countrywide protests and litigation by students for a probe into paper leak claims. Officials said the ministry alleged in a complaint, now part of the FIR, to the agency that “certain isolated incidents” occurred in a few States during the conduct of the examination. candidates who had appeared for the exam on May 5 at centres in Bihar. Meanwhile, a CBI team probing alleged irregularities in the conduct of the UGC-NET exam was attacked by locals in Bihar’s Nawada.