Panaji: Goa police are searching for three more Bangladeshi nationals allegedly involved in two dacoities at Dona Paula and Mapusa, in which over 1kg of gold was stolen.Panaji: In addition to the danger of heat strokes during the extreme heat, the directorate of health services has also cautioned people against taking respite from the heat by swimming in ponds, springs and other water bodies with stagnant water, where they could risk contracting leptospirosis.State epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar said the leptospira bacteria can enter one’s body through a cut in skin or through mucus membranes of eyes, nose and mouth.He advised against swimming in such water bodies and consuming the water without boiling, as this water could be visited by rodents at night to drink water. Rodents pass the leptospira bacteria through their urine.“If the water body doesn’t have flowing water, people should not enter such water bodies or drink this water. We also get cases of leptospirosis from farmers, especially those working in rice fields,” he said.He also asked the public to be cautious about fever with rash, chicken pox and measles, which is seen in higher incidence during extreme summers.He advised anyone who gets infected with chicken pox to immediately isolate themselves and get checked by a doctor. “Isolation is required till the last postule dries out completely, as until such time the disease can still be transmitted,” he said.During this extreme hot weather, health centres have been instructed to educate people about staying hydrated and stay cautious of symptoms related to heat strokes. “One may not get a complete heat stroke but may faint, experience dizziness, headaches etc. It is important to stay hydrated,” he said.Bicholim: The indefinite agitation by Karapur locals against the ongoing work of a mega project entered the 37th day on Monday. Locals have accused the panchayat and the state administration of not initiating any concrete action to issue stop work notice against the mega project. The residents fear that natural water bodies will be exhausted in the village once the project takes shape and have accused govt for not initiating any action until now. Gauresh Ghadi, a local, said it does not seem that the panchayat has any will to stop the project work as they have not given the stop work notice, despite their assurance at the recent gram sabha.Ghadi said about 450-500 locals had signed a resolution that the Karapur-Sarvan panchayat shall immediately issue stop work orders for all ongoing and approved works and also issue show cause notices on why the permissions granted should not be revoked.The locals carried out a morcha to the panchayat office, but the officials could not give satisfactory replies. Police force was also deployed near the panchayat.Panaji: One or two wards are likely to be added across 11 municipal councils ahead of the upcoming urban civic polls, depending on their classification.The Goa State Election Commission (SEC) has sought updated population data of these municipal bodies to determine the revised number of wards.State govt has categorised municipal councils into A, B and C classes, with each category stipulating a specific range of wards.The SEC has decided to increase two wards for Class A municipalities; one ward for Class B, except Mapusa Municipal Council, which already has 20 wards. An officer said that a municipality can’t have more than 20 wards.“The final decision to increase the number of wards will be taken in consultation with state govt,” the officer said.The elections for Bicholim, Pernem, Valpoi, Cuncolim, Curchorem-Cacora and Canacona were held in March 2021, and for Mapusa, Margao, Quepem, Sanguem and Mormugao, they were held in April 2021. State govt has appointed administrators to the municipal councils whose tenure has come to an end.TOI had reported that state govt has notified the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which will delay the elections for 11 municipalities in the state scheduled to be held in May. MLAs wanted the municipal elections postponed till the assembly elections are held in 2027.With the notification, the SEC has restarted the process of delimitation and reservation of wards.For reservation of wards, SEC is completely dependent on Goa State Commission for Backward Classes (GSCBC). The SEC cannot go ahead with the finalisation of reservations of wards until it gets empirical data pertaining to reservation from GSCBC. There is no clarity on how to go ahead with reservation of wards in case GSCBC fails to submit the data on time.The commission shall then begin the delimitation of wards in a municipal area within 60 days from the date of publication of the order in the gazette. It shall also prepare a draft of the delimitation of wards and publish it in the gazette, inviting objections and suggestions from members of the general public within 30 days from the date of the draft’s publication.Objections and suggestions received in writing shall be considered by the SEC, and it shall issue a final notification of delimitation in consultation with govt within 30 days from the last date for submitting such objections.Empirical data on political backwardness shall be obtained by the SEC from the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes in respect of each or any municipal area and the wards, based on the final notification of delimitation.Upon the receipt of this, the commission shall once more publish a draft of the reservation of seats in the gazette, inviting objections and suggestions from members of the general public within 30 days. Crime branch investigators said the arrested accused disclosed that the stolen gold ornaments and cash were systematically divided among themselves and later disposed of through established receivers in Bangladesh, Bengaluru, and other parts of India.Five Bangladeshi nationals arrested in connection with the dacoities have been remanded in 14 days judicial custody.Police said the accused told investigators that part of the stolen property had been disposed of through two persons in Bengaluru. However, investigators found the disclosures inconsistent and the information provided vague.According to police, all the accused are Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly entered India through unauthorised routes without valid travel documents, in violation of immigration laws. They reportedly travelled to Goa via Bengaluru with a pre-planned intention to commit dacoities.Police said the group operated as an organised criminal syndicate, with specific roles assigned to each member, including surveillance of targeted premises, execution of the crime, lookout duties and disposal of stolen property.After carrying out the offences, the accused allegedly fled Goa using different routes and modes of transport.The arrested accused have been identified as Noor Islam alias Nadim Khan, Md Saiful Islam, Sattar Khan, Zakir Hauladar and Md Sumon Hauladar, all residents of Bangladesh.In April 2025, an elderly couple from the Dempo family was allegedly robbed at their Dona Paula residence by three armed intruders. The robbers, armed with daggers, tied up 77-year-old Jaiprakash Dempo and his 71-year-old wife, Padmini, before carrying out the robbery between midnight and 4am.Nearly six months after the incident, police arrested a suspect accused of helping identify the Dempo residence before the robbery.In Oct 2025, at least six armed individuals dressed in burqas allegedly stole cash and valuables worth around Rs 35 lakh from the residence of Dr Mahendra Ghanekar in Ganeshpuri, Mapusa, while holding him hostage after planning an escape route.The crime took place between 3am and 5am. Police said the gang, armed with a large knife and iron rods, ate food available in the house and forced the doctor’s elderly mother to make tea for them. Family members were tied up with bedsheets and a sari and gagged using pillow covers.
