MARGAO
In a major relief to the 22 accused in the sensational Velim Church attack case, including the two priests, the South Goa Sessions court on Tuesday granted an application made by the government for withdrawal of the criminal revision petition filed by the state against the order of the JMFC dropping attempt to murder charge against the accused.
The Court order implies that the accused, including the two Priests Fr Romano Gonsalves and Fr Luicio Dias will not be tried for the serious charge of attempt to murder and for causing grievous hurt to the injured policemen.
When the matter came up for hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Edgar Fernandes on Tuesday morning, Public Prosecutor, Subhash Desai moved an application seeking the withdrawal of the criminal revision application. Judge Edgar sought to know whether the Criminal Procedure code provides for withdrawal of the revision application before granting the application for withdrawal moved by the Public prosecutor.
After granting the application, Judge Edgar fixed hearing of the case before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao on June 30, indicating that the 22 accused in the case will now be tried before the Magistrate’s court for the other charges.
Public Prosecutor Subhash Desai moved the withdrawal application before the Sessions Court based on a letter received from the Director of Prosecution Shiral Monteiro conveying the Under Secretary, Home’s letter intimating the government’s approval to withdraw the case.
Given that the court has granted the application for withdrawal of section 307 (attempt to murder) and section 333 (causing grievous injuries to the policemen), the accused persons, including former Velim Church Priest Fr Romano Gonsalves, Episcopal Vicar Fr Lucio Dias and 22 others, will now face charges only under section 143, 144, 147, 148, 186, 323, 324, 326, 332, 341, 342 read with section 149 of the IPC.
The Cuncolim police had in July 2015, filed the chargesheet against then Parish Priest of St Xavier’s Church, Velim Fr Romano Gonsalves and Episcopal Vicar, South Goa Fr Lucio Dias and 22 persons in the sensational February 25, 2012 Velim Church assault case which had left three CID personnel injured in the Church premises.
In the chargesheet, the police alleged that the accused persons formed an unlawful assembly with deadly weapons, stones and glass bottles and confined the CID personnel, PSI Kapil Nayak, Head constable Krishnanand Rane and Police constable Kuldip Desai inside the premise of the Church when they had visited the Church for collection of intelligence pertaining to the Assembly elections.
