Helmet as weapon
The Calangute police have booked three tourists after a local taxi driver was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle vandalised in Naikavaddo on Wednesday evening. In a case of road rage the tourists took law into their own hands and began attacking the taxi driver with a helmet. Sensing the aggression, the driver fled the scene leaving the car behind. If the driver had to resist the attack, he could have suffered injuries which could even have proved fatal as the tourists attacked him with helmets. The video of the extent of damage done to the car has gone viral on social media. Incidentally this is the second time in the past few weeks where tourists have used a helmet to attack a car driver. It appears that tourists are now using helmets to attack locals in incidents of road rage. On the contrary, Goans settle an argument verbally following an accident but never resort to violence. Helmets having a very hard surface can definitely be used as a dangerous weapon to settle scores.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
When tourists go berserk
A local taxi driver was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle vandalised by a group of tourists following a collision with their two-wheeler in Calangute on Wednesday evening. While the police have confirmed that some of the tourists involved have been booked and further investigation is ongoing, it is likely that the outcome will be no different from previous incidents. This recurring behaviour from domestic tourists happens because they know the Goa police are either incompetent or corrupt, which allows them to act with impunity. Unless the Goa police begin acting professionally and taking firm action against such disruptive tourists, incidents like these will continue to happen, tarnishing the reputation of our state.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Panacea for cancer
This is with reference to the news report ‘Aspirin may prevent cancer spread’ (NT, March 10, 2025). This is a great piece of news of aspirin stimulating the immune system and preventing the spread of cancer in the body. Cancer is a deadly disease and yet, man with all his intelligence, is unable to have a complete grip over this disease. Vaccines have been created for several other diseases; even Covid found a vaccine in just a couple of months. Seriously, medical researchers must use their intelligence and work on creating a vaccine for cancer. Treatment of cancer is not just a very expensive affair it shakes up the entire human system leaving one frail at the end of the day.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Pak reaping what it sowed
The recent chilling ambush of the Jaffar Express by terrorists belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army is a rude wake-up call for Pakistan. This is not the first time this particular train has been singled out; the suicide bombing last year at Quetta railway station also targeted the Jaffar Express The attack has sent shockwaves across South Asia. Interestingly, China, who is Pakistan’s all-weather friend, is watching the insurgency activities closely as its workers are regular targets of the BLA militants. Fortunately, the operation ended with the majority of hostages rescued, thanks to the swift and decisive action by the Pakistan Army and other security agencies. Unfortunately, though, before the security forces action, 21 passengers had already lost their lives to the terrorists’ lust for wanton violence. Successive Pakistani regimes have long been accused of exporting terrorism to India, failing to recognise that their own policies have destabilised their own country more than others.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Curse of casteism
Kazi Nazrul Islam was born in the district of Burdwan in West Bengal. True to the spirit of Nazrul, who wrote against all forms of repression, the Dalit mochi (cobbler) community of Gidhgram in East Burdwan recently launched a movement against the discriminatory practice of not allowing them to enter a local Shiv temple. In retaliation, the members of around 800 families of upper castes have allegedly denied the 130 Dalit families daily-wage jobs and access to a village thoroughfare. But it could not able to defeat the never-say-die attitude of the Dalits. At last, the cobbler community could offer puja at the temple for the first time on Tuesday with administrative support.
Sujit De, Kolkata
Jab for public health
An ambitious vaccination health programme aimed at saving lives and preventing morbidity merits an unflinching dedication on the part of every stakeholder. The focus on vaccination against polio, which crippled hundreds of children every day, did not waver. Highly trained volunteers went from door to door with missionary zeal to raise awareness among the public. Polio eradication was taken to a magical level never seen before in a major health programme in independent India barring, of course, the smallpox elimination drive. By the same token, the corona vaccine mission is also a tribute to the hard work of all concerned. The National Vaccination Day is observed on March 16 to commemorate the first dose of oral polio administered on this day in 1995. Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
