Goa: Santa Cruz Double Murder Case.

No clean chit to anyone, working on all possible angles: Superintendent of Police

Goa: Santa Cruz Double Murder Case.

PANJIM/ OLD GOA: Police today told that they have been working on all possible angles in the St Cruz double murder case and not just going by the allegations against Norman Fernandes who has been named as the main accused by Mathias Vaz, whose daughter- in- law ( Norman's sister) and wife was tragically killed last week.

Responding to queries, Superintendent of Police Priyanka Kashyap said that police are aware about the allegations against Edgar Vaz, the husband of Noreen and son of Aurita who were killed apparently after a family dispute in their home on September 2. “ We are aware of these allegations and are investigating every possible angle... We have not given a clean chit to anybody right now,” she told Media

Kashyap said the fatal attack seems to be a premeditated crime as per the investigations so far. “ It looks to be premeditated crime… since the prime accused ( Norman) is not being interrogated as he is undergoing medical treatment we cannot give shape to the investigation as of now,” she said, responding to a question that the parish priest’s statement expresses doubt that Norman could have attacked his sister Noreen when he was in fact known to be in a troubled relationship with her husband Edgar.

Now, over a week after the gruesome attack, the police will reconstruct the scene of crime based on the statements and after corroboration with evidence gathered so far. Police said co- accused Noel had left the St Cruz house when arguments between Edgar and Norman were turning heated on the fateful night.

It has not been established so far as to who provoked whom during the argument and how the two women came to be fatally stabbed, Kashyap said, adding that police are “ still ascertaining facts”. “ It is still not conclusive who killed whom. It is still not concluded who was carrying the knife. About provocation, let the case investigation take shape. We are yet to interrogate Norman,” she added.

Police sources said doctors have told them his discharge is possible only after a week.

Kashyap said police would not and were not basing its investigations on statements made by Mathias. “ We don’t depend on witnesses' statements unless these are collaborated with evidence. The intention and many other factors that resulted in the fatal attack is still being established,” she stated.

Another senior officer told Media that Edgar’s role is being scrutinized considering his past record. “ We are verifying his antecedents. His role is under the Santa Cruz double murder The dramatis personae & their bio sketches .

The double murder on otherwise peaceful 2 September evening shattered the calm, friendly environment of St Cruz which is still reeling in shock. A brother has been accused of killing his sister and her mother- in- law in a fit of rage.

Whilst police must, of course, do their job fairly and be seen to be doing so as it is they who have the responsibility and the resources to do, the information gathered by our reporters on the dramatis personae in this real- life Goan tragedy  Norman, a special educator at a school in Porvorim who is still admitted in GMC with " self- inflicted wounds", his statement on what happened that fateful evening as yet unrecorded by police, and his brother- in- law Edgar, who along with his father has alleged that his brother- in- law was the killer  paint a picture of the two that may well have a bearing on the case.

Norman Fernandes

·        School, Vasco on August 31, 2007 as a special educator.

·     He was transferred to Sanjay School, Porvorim, in the higher secondary section on 5 June 2013.

·         School chairperson Guruprasad Pawasker said Norman was very co- operative with the teachers and there was no complaint whatsoever from the students or parents. His was extremely well- behaved and, from all accounts, well- liked.

·         Norman's neighbours and villagers in Bambolim said they thought it very unlikely that he would ever pick up a weapon to harm or kill anybody, least of all his sister.

·         He had a close relationship with his sister Noreen and had even gifted her sewing machine to help with her professional training as a tailor a few days before the murders.

·   Norman was known to have lent money to his sister whenever she was in a financial crisis and supported her throughout when she was going through a troubled relationship with her husband, which she had complained about to the women's commission.

·        While admitted in GMC, his statement as yet unrecorded by police, he has sent a message to the parish priest to take care of his four- year- old niece about whose welfare he has expressed concern

Edgar Vaz

  

·        The alleged victim of the attack, it has been independently corroborated, was a regular at Panjim's offshore casinos.

·         Police are still following up leads that he had borrowed lakhs of rupees from a private individual on high interest rates and reassured the lender when pressed for payment that his wife’s property would fetch him more than enough to cover his loan.

·        Cases of cheating, bouncing of cheque and vehicle theft ( filed against him by his late wife Noreen in connection with her Hyundai Getz car) were registered at different police stations.

·        Police sources said Edgar failed to respond to summons under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for bouncing of cheques.

·        The St Cruz parish priest has said that Norman and Noreen’s mother, while on her deathbed, had asked her son to take care of his sister and niece as she was aware of the complaints about Edgar made by Noreen.

·         A complaint of domestic violence and harassment had been made against him by his late wife Noreen with the Block Development Office, Tiswadi; Noreen had undergone counselling over strained marital relationship with a former chairperson of Goa State Women’s Commission.

·         Evidence collected so far by police as well as interviews Herald has conducted with a number of people in the know point to the fact that he was anticipating the sale of his wife’s property.

Economic Development Corporation had lately sanctioned a loan of Rs 4 lakh to Edgar; the status of the loan, whether regular payments made or whether there was any default, is yet to be confirmed by police

Goa : Santa cruz double murder case

GOA: Fresh twist to St Cruz double murder Case.

PANJIM: In a startling disclosure made by a key witness into the Santa Cruz double murder case, Norman Fernandes and his sister Noreen Fernandes e Vaz, who along with her mother- in- law were the two women killed in the last week’s attack, had met a priest together barely 20 to 30 minutes before the murders on September 2. File photos of Norman alongwith his sister Noreen Fernandes e Vaz and ( right) Edgar Vaz The brother and sister had been to meet with the St Cruz parish priest as they were disturbed over an anonymous letter casting aspersions on Norman's character and a property related matter being circulated in Bambolim and St Cruz villages. Police sources said the priest in his statement has expressed his doubts about how the brother could have turned to his sister and attacked her with a knife in less than half an hour after they both met him and been perfectly normal. The revelation has sprung a surprise on police whose investigation has also come under the scanner because they have not probed Noreen’s husband Edgar's role merely on the basis of the statement of his father Mathias that his son was the victim and when there are no eye- witnesses to the actual murder. In fact, Edgar has been discharged from GMC and the police have taken his statement narrating his version of events. He has, as has been reported, cases of cheating and vehicle theft against him and there was a verbal complaint against him by Noreen with the previous women's commission on domestic violence and harassment and she was being counseled by a former member of the commission. Neighbours and villagers speak openly about his reported gambling too; as per police records, he had earlier failed to respond to summons under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for bouncing of cheques issued by him. The parish priest has reportedly told police that Noreen had approached him on that fateful evening and discussed the matter of the anonymous note with him. “ The priest then called up Norman and asked him to come to the church as his sister was already there,” said a source quoting the witness’ statement. Norman went to the St Cruz church where he and his sister Noreen were counseled by the priest that the anonymous letter was obviously an attempt to provoke him and he should not get disturbed over such a petty, vicious attempt. According to villagers of Santa Cruz told to media, Mathias was suspected to have been behind such notes in the past. “ Both Norman and Noreen left the church together having seemingly accepted the priest's counsel. Their behavior was perfectly normal,” the source said. It was about 20 minutes thereafter that the priest was told about the double murder. He rushed to the spot where he saw Noreen in a pool of blood. He took Noreen to the Goa Medical College and Hospital. Norman, who has been made a prime accused by police for allegedly killing his sister and her mother- in- law Aurita, is undergoing treatment for “ self inflicted injuries” at GMC under police guard. Norman’s statement, incidentally, has still not been taken by police. Interestingly, it has also emerged that Norman has sent a message from GMC to the parish priest to “ take care of his four- year- old niece”. Family sources told to media that while Norman and Noreen’s mother was on her deathbed, she had asked her son to take care of his niece as she was aware of the troubled marriage of Edgar and Noreen. In fact, that the sister brother duo was not in bad terms is also evident from the fact that Norman had gifted Noreen a sewing machine a few days before the fateful night as she was learning to sew professionally. There have also been conflicting versions on the number of people, the so- called “ guests from Maharashtra” present in the house with police claiming there were three guests whilst villagers say there were around five men present on September 2 besides those belonging to the Vaz family and Norman. Police refused to disclose the identity of these “ guests” saying they were witnesses. According to sources, the priest who took Noreen to GMC has said she had just one, fatal cut on the neck which looked to be the handiwork of a professional and not the slash of a knife used in rage or if a heated argument got violent. Herald investigations have also raised questions as to why Edgar or his father Mathias did not call up the police control room or the police station when Norman, according to Mathias’ version of events, entered the house verandah and apparently questioned the father- son duo on the anonymous pamphlet. In fact, some newspaper offices reportedly got calls before the police, though police refuse to confirm or deny this. Mathias’ statement that he has decided he would not seek punishment for Norman but instead leave it to the State to fight the case after alleging that Norman inflicted injuries on himself after stabbing the two women and his son has also raised eyebrows. Police have not succeeded to locate the weapon of assault which could be the key evidence during the case trial. “ Fingerprints on the assault weapon will take us to the real culprit,” said a police source. Meanwhile, according to the police, the four- year- old daughter of Noreen has given a statement that she saw her uncle and parents argue on the fateful day from the first floor of the house. “ But when she came down to see what was happening she only saw the bodies in pools of blood,” said a police officer said quoting the child’s statement. Mathias too has made a similar statement. There has, therefore, been no eyewitness to the actual murder. The “ guests” of Edgar who are among 20- odd witnesses whose statements have been recorded by police reportedly fled from the spot during the argument. Edgar, meanwhile, even sent a message to the Herald asking not to publish anything on this case.

Two Chote Ustad of the Street.

Delhi gang-rape Verdict.

Delhi gang-rape: Leaders demanded death penalty for convicts 

New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, political leaders on Tuesday demanded death penalty for the four convicts in December 16 gang-rape case, saying the punishment should set a precedent so that nobody dares to even think of committing such an act in future. 

"They should be given capital punishment, as this is a case of gang-rape and murder. The incident is of heinous crime and the provisions of law also favours capital punishment. The four should be hanged so it would be a model and deter others from committing such crime," said Sushma Swaraj, senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. 

She said that she was not happy with the quantum of punishment awarded to the juvenile accused, who was sentenced to a three-year term at a detention centre after being held guilty by the Juvenile Justice Board of gangrape and murder 10 days ago. 

Welcoming the verdict, Congress general secretary Ambika Soni said the punishment should convey the right message and prevent such incidents from recurring. 

"I have maintained that the punishment should convey a message to those who dare to carry out such an act. I hope such incidents won't occur again," Soni said.

Sharing her views, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat stressed on the need to expedite trials in such incidents as there were thousands of pending cases which were waiting for justice for years. 

"In such a case where evidence was clear, it took nine months to deliver justice. Think of those cases in which our women and children are victims of sexual assault and are waiting for justice for years," Karat said, adding "we want that the impact of the verdict of this case should be felt on other cases also". 

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that the incident had not only shocked Delhi but also entire nation. 

She said her government had set up the fast track court and "they have done, so let us just see what the next step would be". 

Dikshit said that she had a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and "they are working on digital diary, thus making the system more quicker so that exchange of information is quick." 

"The incident was a wake up call and so PCR vans are being put up, CCTV cameras are being enabled and this would be done in months," she said. 

Praising Delhi Police for its investigation, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said "we have made several amendments in the laws". 

"Now trials in such cases would be done under the new laws, which will ensure capital punishment for such heinous crime," he said. 

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said that nothing less that death penalty would do full justice as the case falls in the rarest of rare category. 

"Quantum of punishment can go from life imprisonment to capital punishment as this is a rarest of rare case and you won't get such abundant evidence generally," she said. 

PTI 

GOA SUNBURN 2013

Sunburn Organisers Announced the sale of " early bird Tickets" for sunburn 2013

  The Sunburn festival 2013 in goa is waiting for the  approval from the state government, but that has not stopped organisers of the event from announcing the sale of “ early bird tickets” from September 11 for the event that will takes place in December.

While Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the application for the event is still pending with the government, he was confident that the festival would not be staged at Candolim. But Entertainment Society of goa ( ESG) Vice- Chairman Vishnu Wagh has described Sunburn as “ a bad concept that is spoiling the youth” and has instead, suggested an international western music concert in the state.

Dilip Parulekar confirmed that the government was yet to give its approval to the festival.

“ We have received an application for the festival, but it is up to the single window committee to take a decision on it. This time though, I will not allow the event to be organised at Candolim at any cost and the organisers have shortlisted 2- 3 places in north and south goa,” Parulekar told Media

Speaking on the sale of tickets from September 11 before getting approval from the government, Parulekar said: “ They may have advertised online, but I cannot stop them from doing that.” On the other hand, fellow BJP legislator Wagh has felt that events such as Sunburn need to be brought under the purview of the ESG, so that they can be monitored by regulatory agencies, besides adding to the revenue of the state.

He also Said “ Sunburn is a bad concept and is spoiling the youth, but I don’t want it to be banned. Instead, the state government should have a regulatory body like the ESG to monitor such events and help the state treasury in benefiting from such events. “ I have told my government so many times that if it declares entertainment as an industry, we can get huge revenue annually from the entertainment sector.” “ Bookings for the Sunburn festival have already started on the Internet, though the organizers of the event are yet to get permission. There is no check on the rates of the tickets and no one knows how much money the organisers will collect by organising the festival,” Wagh added.

Asked if he had any alternate plans for a mega music festival in the state, Wagh replied: “ Sunburn is nothing but DJ and trance music. In fact, just three days ago, I had consulted my friends in the international music circle and had proposed that we should have an international western music concert, where we can invite 150 groups from all over the world to Goa. We could have music for three days and three nights and this would be better than the DJ and trance music at Sunburn.” Incidentally, Goa Police had earlier written to the state government advising against issuing permission to ‘ Sunburn”, as it is a “ high risk hazard to participants” and its location along the Candolim sea front had made it “ highly vulnerable” to terrorist attacks.

When contacted, a senior police official confirmed that Goa Police was yet to receive the application pertaining to the Sunburn festival in the state.


"Will pull out Dress code signpost at Basilica entrance": Organiser

Sunburn organisers have boldly declared the festival as “ Asia’s biggest electronic dance music event”, that would provide “ all kinds of sensory overload just for a marathon recreation.” In their website www. sunburn.in

 the organisers have stated that the early bird tickets are to go on sale at 12 noon from September 11.

 the annual event is pulling out everything musical from its luscious fold to entertain you with its breathless programming and creating a magnitude of dance and musical pleasure never before seen which only Sunburn 2013, can bring.” “ Performers this year are going to be double and will cover the entire spectrum of dance music you should know.” “ The Sunburn festival experience will touch the stratosphere with its mammoth stage structures and production largesse as we are never short of ideas, providing all kinds of sensory overload just for your marathon recreation,” claim the organisers.

all stops’ authorities had only appealed to visitors to be appropriately clothed while entering the basilica, but this request is now being enforced with a signboard, issued by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI).

The signboard, which has now been placed at the entrance of the basilica, states “ The chapel of St Francis Xavier is a holy place sanctified with the sacred relic of St Francis Xavier. Devotees are requested to behave with extreme reverence and respectful silence.” The board also states that “ Out of deference for the house of God and also to respect the sentiments of devotees, proper dress is required for all those who enter this monument. Entry may be denied to those found inappropriately dressed.” Church authorities had recently convened a meeting with the ASI at Old Goa and had decided to install signboards requesting visitors to dress properly, rather than imposing a ban on scantily- clad guests.

The 16th century church has been receiving complaints from parishioners who have raised objections about the scantily- clad tourists who usually come during the Mass. Also, there had been suggestions that such tourists should not be allowed to enter the church.

Some temples in Ponda taluka have already banned the entry of those tourists found inappropriately dressed at the site.

MUZAFFARNAGAR VIOLENCE

MUZAFFARNAGAR VIOLENCE

FIR was Lodged against several BJP leaders; death toll up to 33

Akhilesh  Yadav orders inquiry commission headed by retired judge.

Amid an ongoing political slugfest over the communal clashes that have claimed 33 lives so far, seven leaders of the BJP, one former Congress MP and a former BSP leader besides three of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) have been booked for allegedly whipping up communal passions through inflammatory speeches at a “mahapanchayat” organized in the city outskirts on September 7.

While none of the accused political leaders have been arrested yet, the State government on Monday instituted a one-member judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge Vishnu Sahai to inquire into the Muzaffarnagar riots. The commission will submit its report within two months.

Among those named in the First Information Report registered at the Sikera police station are BJP leaders Chaudhry Hukum Singh, Suresh Rana, Sangeet Som, Kunwar Bhartendu Singh, Sohanvir Singh, Kapildev Aggrawal and Pradeep Baliyan. “Forty people have been named in the FIR which has also been registered against over a thousand others [unknown] for promoting communal disharmony, preventing the police from carrying out their duty through acts of violence and for violating orders prohibiting unlawful assembly,” said Additional Director-General (Law and Order) Arun Kumar on Monday.

Names of BKU chief Naresh Tikait, his brother Rakesh Tikait and some Rashtriya Lok Dal leaders, who were part of the “Bahu Beti Samman and Hindu Bachao” rally, also find a mention as accused in the FIR.

Large-scale deployment of Army columns and para-military forces across the region has so far failed to restore normality. Afraid that the situation may aggravate, the administration has banned the entry of any opposition party leader.

RLD chief Ajit Singh, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and two BJP MPs, who on Monday morning attempted to enter Uttar Pradesh to visit the riot-hit pockets of Muzaffarnagar, were detained at Ghaziabad.

India News

BJP will have final call on PM candidate by September 19

The RSS and the BJP Monday seemed to have reached a consensus on the projection of Narendra Modi as the candidate of Prime Minister and a meeting of the highest decision -making body of the BJP Parliamentary Board is expected next week to make the announcement.
The decision to officially declare the candidate of Mr. Modi is understood to have been taken despite the reservations of senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj , who wanted the announcement, at least , to be postponed until after the elections of Assembly of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh , Rajasthan and Delhi.
After a two-day meeting of the top leadership of the Sangh Parivar , which concluded Monday evening, there were indications that the green light was given to project the Chief Minister of Gujarat and the decision will be announced by the BJP 19 September.
Also RSS and the BJP , the meeting was attended by leaders of the 13 subsidiaries of the Sangh Parivar as VHP .
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and VHP leader Praveen Togadia attended Monday's meeting , while Mr. Modi and Advani attended the Sunday meeting .
According to sources, the BJP should convene a meeting of the Parliamentary Council sometimes between September 13 and 19 to take a final call on the issue of prime minister candidate .
Reports that Mr. Modi and other parliamentary members of the Board will be in Delhi on September 14 has led to whispers that the meeting may be convened on that day . Mr. Modi will address a BJP rally in Rewari , Haryana tomorrow.
However, if the Commission is not able to meet on September 14 , it is likely to respond by September 20 at the time of pitrapaksh "the inauspicious start.
However, efforts are underway to ensure that the announcement coincides with the anniversary of Mr. Modi on September 17.
The RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya , sought to minimize differences in BJP on the issue.
"If there is a crisis ( on the issue ), it was not visible here , " he said when asked if there is a crisis in the party over the nomination of Mr. Modi .
In an attempt to convince Mr. Advani and Ms. Swaraj , RSS general secretary Suresh ' Bhaiyya ji " Joshi had met separately last week. It was followed by a dinner meeting between Mr. Bhagwat , Mr. Advani and Ms. Swaraj .
Last Saturday , Mr. Vaidya said RSS has already made ​​its position on the key issue and it is for BJP to take a decision.

"The cooperative has already made ​​its position known . Sangh has already informed the party. The party knows. It is for the party to decide who and when to declare and decide . I will not say here , " Mr. Vaidya said the projection of Mr. Modi as prime ministerial candidate of BJP .