Panaji (Goa), Jan 24, : Three young persons, including one Police constable, were arrested for allegedly raping a minor in Khandola village in Goa.

Indian Reserve Battalion's Police constable, Shamba alias Dipak Jhalmi and two of his accomplices, Paresh Saju Gaude and Sanjay Rama Jhalmi were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting a fifteen-year-old minor for over three months.

Police inspector Manjunath Desai said the girl had complained that the accused had sexually abused her on several occasions at different places in and around the village.

Panaji (Goa), Jan. 21 : The Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare met here on Tuesday to review the progress of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in various states.

Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NRHM) G C Chaturvedi presented the key features of the mission and the state wise progress on key benchmark indicators.

Members appreciated the remarkable progress made by the mission in the short span of time and recommended that the allocation of funds for the NRHM should be enhanced over the years.

Baga Beach, Goa, Dec 31 : In the wake of recent terror attacks in Mumbai, authorities Goa have beefed up security measures in the region.

"We have made all possible security arrangements. In this regard, we have assistance from Government of India also in the form of paramilitary forces. So, I can say that Goa is safe and there are sufficient security arrangements on the ground," said Kishan Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Goa.

The state has undertaken several security measures like screening of tourists and combing of hotels.

‘Sunburn Goa 08’, the Asia's biggest musical beach party started on Saturday with conditional permission at Candolim beach, was stopped mid way on Sunday for breaking noise pollution norms.

The three-day Sunburn 2008 music beach festival had abrupt ending when the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) issued an order canceling the conditional NOC issued to the organizers of the festival.

North Goa Additional Collector Swapnil Nail said, “The festival was stopped at around 8.15 pm based on GSPCB report which cited violation of noise pollution levels.”

Panaji, Dec 27 : Christmas might have been over, but the festival spirit still lives on in Goa in form of cribs put out by locals recreating the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

Numerous cribs in various sizes depicting Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the three kings, sheep and camels, set against a backdrop of a manger adorn the houses, churches across the state.

For the Catholic families, the tradition of crib making is as special as the festivity of the Christmas.

Due to the security threats following last month's Mumbai attacks, authorities in India's south-western resort state of Goa have banned beach parties. On Saturday after the discussions, the state government decided to ban the most popular beach parties during Christmas and New Year's holidays.

M Digamber Kamat, Goa Chief Minister announced, "There will be no beach parties from December 23, 2008 to January 5, 2009 due to security reasons. But hotel and traditional parties will be allowed."