British tourist raped, robbed near beach in Goa; 30-yr-old man arrested

coastaldigest.com web desk

December 21, 2018

Panaji, Dec 21: The South Goa police arrested a 30-year-old man belonging to Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, on the charge of raping a 42-year-old British tourist and robbing her of her belongings on Thursday morning. The victim has been a regular visitor to Goa for the last several years, according to the police.

Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Arvind Gawas said that CCTV footage obtained from the site of the incident and the local railway station helped them track down the accused, Ram Chandrappa, the same evening.

The victim was proceeding from the Canacona railway station to her guest house near Palolem beach after missing a train when the accused chased her into the nearby fields and raped her around 4.30 a.m. He then fled with her bag, which contained Rs. 20,000 in cash.

In the evening, the police traced the accused from CCTV footage from the assault site and Margao railway station, around 35km from Canacona, North Goa, inspector Rajendra Prabhudesai said.

The police had earlier “rounded up some suspects from the area”, Prabhudesai said. He said the woman had been a frequent visitor to Goa for the past 10 years, and had been travelling in the state for the past three weeks.
Thursday’s attack comes 19 months after a 28-year-old female Irish tourist’s mutilated body was found in Canacona.

She had been raped and attacked with a rock and broken bottles. Vikas Bhagat, a habitual offender she had befriended, is being tried on charges of rape, murder, theft and destruction of evidence. Canacona is a tourism hub, with popular beaches like Agonda and Palolem.

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Warning! Cancer-causing chemicals found in bakery products, especially cakes in Karnataka

News Network

October 3,2024

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department has issued an urgent warning following the discovery of potentially cancer-causing chemicals in cakes sold by certain bakeries across the state.

Recent tests conducted by the department revealed that some cake samples, particularly those with vibrant colors, contain harmful synthetic coloring agents such as Allura Red, a substance known to pose health risks. The findings have raised concerns about the use of artificial colors in bakery products, especially given their potential link to cancer and other serious health conditions.

"We routinely test various food products, and this time, our officials noticed unusually dark-colored cakes on the market," said Srinivas K, Commissioner of Food Safety for Karnataka. "Upon testing, we found that a few cakes contained Allura Red, a synthetic dye associated with health risks."

The use of artificial colors, especially in popular cakes like red velvet and pineapple varieties, is widespread as it attracts customers, particularly children. However, many bakers prefer using natural, safer alternatives, while some opt for synthetic dyes to enhance the cake's visual appeal.

"Most bakeries use permissible, natural colors that are safe for consumption. Unfortunately, a few are resorting to synthetic dyes just to make their cakes more attractive," said a bakery owner from Electronic City, speaking anonymously.

Medical experts are warning that consuming synthetic colors can lead to numerous health issues, including asthma and allergic reactions.

"Some of these artificial dyes are carcinogenic, and prolonged exposure could have serious consequences, especially for children and young adults," cautioned Dr. Vandana G, a private medical practitioner.

While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) confirms that only a limited number of samples tested positive for harmful colors, legal action is being taken against the violators.

"There is no need for widespread panic or halting production. We are closely monitoring the situation, and only a few bakeries were found to be non-compliant. Rest assured, appropriate legal measures are underway," assured an FSSAI official.

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