PANAJI: After more than 13 years, the long-pending Velim Church attack case has finally reached closure, with the Margao Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) acquitting all 22 accused, including the late Fr Romano Gonsalves and Fr Lucio Dias.
The two priests, the late Fr Romano, who was then Parish Priest of St Xavier Church, Velim, and Fr Lucio, then Parish Priest of Assolna Church, along with 20 others, had been booked by the Cuncolim police for allegedly assaulting CID officers during a volatile incident in 2012.
Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Fr Lucio expressed relief that the long ordeal had ended. “The Velim incident took place in 2012, and today we are in 2025. Many were accused without reason, but today there is a sense of joy in our hearts that the case has come to an end. Justice has been done, though delayed. We hope that such cases are not prolonged in the future and that justice is delivered swiftly,” he said.
The Velim Church incident occurred on the eve of the 2012 Goa Assembly elections, when three CID officers led by PI Kapil Nayak visited the St Xavier Church to inquire if villagers intended to vote. Tensions were already high following an earlier raid by an election flying squad, and the officers reportedly faced a hostile crowd, leading to a scuffle.
Following the incident, 22 villagers, including both priests, were booked under multiple IPC sections for rioting, assault on public servants, and unlawful assembly. Initially, police had even invoked Section 307 (attempt to murder), citing injuries to the officers. However, in November 2016, the JMFC dropped the charge after it was found that the injuries were simple in nature.
Although the State later challenged the order, the revision petition before the Sessions Court was withdrawn, and the case continued under lesser charges.
