Goa desecration: Man held, says vandalised crosses 'casually'
July 15, 2017 19:01
The Goa police has arrested a 50-year-old man in connection with the alleged desecration of holy crosses in South Goa district, it said today.
The accused, Francis Pereira, had told the police that he 'casually' vandalised 12 crosses over the last fortnight with no intention to create an enmity, said a senior police officer.
The Christian religious symbol in at least 12 places and a temple had been vandalised in the South Goa district since July 1.
The police hoped that with Pereira's arrest, they would be able to crack over 150 cases of desecration of religious places reported from the state in the last 15 years.
Pereira, a resident of Curchorem village in South Goa, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team of Goa police last night while he was attempting to desecrate a cross at Curtorim village, around 20 km from his residence.
"A police team spotted Pereira attempting to damage the cross. On seeing the policemen, he tried to run away but the police managed to nab him," the senior officer told PTI.
"During the preliminary questioning, he admitted to have desecrated the crosses over the last fortnight," he added.
Talking to reporters at Curchorem town, Superintendent of Police (South) Arvind Gawas said, "We have cracked the biggest and longest-running case of desecrations in the state with the arrest of Pereira. With this, we will be able to solve over150 cases of desecration of religious places, which were reported over the last 15 years."
Pereira, who was convicted in an attempt to murder case earlier, had been living at Curchorem village after serving the jail term, he added.
Talking to reporters, Pereira said he had no intention to trigger an enmity with anyone by his act.
"I did it casually. Nothing was planned. I used to see across and hit it," he said.
Director General of Police Muktesh Chander said during the interrogation, the accused told the police that he had a plan to continue desecrating religious places in the state.
"He had plans of desecrating statues and religiousstructures," the DGP added. -- PTI
The accused, Francis Pereira, had told the police that he 'casually' vandalised 12 crosses over the last fortnight with no intention to create an enmity, said a senior police officer.
The Christian religious symbol in at least 12 places and a temple had been vandalised in the South Goa district since July 1.
The police hoped that with Pereira's arrest, they would be able to crack over 150 cases of desecration of religious places reported from the state in the last 15 years.
Pereira, a resident of Curchorem village in South Goa, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team of Goa police last night while he was attempting to desecrate a cross at Curtorim village, around 20 km from his residence.
"A police team spotted Pereira attempting to damage the cross. On seeing the policemen, he tried to run away but the police managed to nab him," the senior officer told PTI.
"During the preliminary questioning, he admitted to have desecrated the crosses over the last fortnight," he added.
Talking to reporters at Curchorem town, Superintendent of Police (South) Arvind Gawas said, "We have cracked the biggest and longest-running case of desecrations in the state with the arrest of Pereira. With this, we will be able to solve over150 cases of desecration of religious places, which were reported over the last 15 years."
Pereira, who was convicted in an attempt to murder case earlier, had been living at Curchorem village after serving the jail term, he added.
Talking to reporters, Pereira said he had no intention to trigger an enmity with anyone by his act.
"I did it casually. Nothing was planned. I used to see across and hit it," he said.
Director General of Police Muktesh Chander said during the interrogation, the accused told the police that he had a plan to continue desecrating religious places in the state.
"He had plans of desecrating statues and religiousstructures," the DGP added. -- PTI
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