4 tourists among 25 killed in fire at Goa nightclub

PANAJI, Dec 7: At least 25 people, including four tourists and 14 staff members, were killed in a fire that gutted Birch, a popular club in Goa. Preliminary investigations reveal that most of the victims died of suffocation after the fire broke out in the club’s basement, which lacked proper ventilation.

The fire broke out at the nightclub “Birch” in North Goa’s Arpora late Saturday night. Preliminary investigation reveals that the blaze began in the basement of the club at around 11.45 pm. It is suspected to have then spread to the first floor, which houses a bar and restaurant. At least 25 people, including four tourists and 14 staff members, were killed, and six others were injured.

Although police initially received information suggesting a cylinder blast, injuries sustained by the victims suggest otherwise. Goa DGP Alok Kumar said, “The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. We are also checking if the club had complied with fire safety norms and whether they had the requisite fire-safety NOC.”

Investigators are also examining whether the blaze may have been triggered by a pyro sparkle gun—often used at parties and events—that may have come into contact with flammable material on the roof, causing the fire to spread rapidly.

12 Maoists, 3 DRG jawans killed in Chhatisgarh

DANTEWADA, Dec 3: At least 12 Maoists and three District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were killed during a gunfight in a major anti-Maoist operation that is underway in the West Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh along the Bijapur–Dantewada inter-district border, officials said.

The encounter began around 9am when a joint team of Dantewada–Bijapur DRG, the Special Task Force (STF), CRPF and CoBRA commandos launched a search operation in the dense forest region.

Intermittent firing between Maoists and security personnel continued throughout the day in which another jawan also sustained injuries.

Bijapur superintendent of police Jitendra Yadav said the operation is in a “decisive phase” and that an “aggressive offensive” against Maoists is underway. Additional reinforcement teams have been rushed and the entire area has been cordoned off.

The bodies of 12 Maoist cadres have been recovered from the site of the encounter, and forces have seized SLR rifles, .303 rifles and other weapons and ammunition. The identities of those killed are yet to be established.

Three DRG Bijapur personnel — head constable Monu Vadadi and constables Dukaru Gonde and Ramesh Sodi — laid down their lives during the gunfight. Another DRG jawan — Somdev Yadav — was injured and has been administered first aid. He is said to be out of danger, while further medical arrangements have been made.

With this, the number of Maoists killed in encounters in Chhattisgarh this year has risen to 270. Of them, 241 were eliminated in the Bastar division, which includes seven districts such as Bijapur and Dantewada. Twenty-seven were killed in Gariaband district of the Raipur division, while two were neutralised in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in the Durg division.

Sundarraj P, inspector general of police of the Bastar Range, said the anti-Maoist campaign remains “intense and strategically driven”. He added that since the operation is still in progress, detailed information cannot be shared at this stage.

“Further information will be released at an appropriate time once the operation is complete,” Sundarraj said.