THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
In a major development, government’s move to withdraw from prosecution in the sensational 2012 Velim church attack case has finally come a cropper after Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao Ram Prabhudesai dismissed the Prosecution’s plea for withdrawal on Friday.
After dismissing the application moved by Assistant Public Prosecutor, Shipla Nagvenkar, Judge Prabhudesai has now fixed October 5 for arguments before committing the case to Sessions Court for trial.
Judge Prabhudesai pronounced the order dismissing the Assistant Public Prosecutor’s application for withdrawing the case in the open court noon. The Prosecution had moved the court for withdrawal in the interest of peace and amity.
The Court order comes against the backdrop of the application made by victim police officers, PI Kapil Nayak and Head constable Krishnanand Rane, vehemently opposing the government's move. In fact, both PI Kapil and HC Krishnanand had prayed to the court that the judicial process should be set in motion to bring the culprits involved in the assault to book.
In this case, 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.
The 22 accused persons include Fr Romano Gonsalves (then Velim Parish Priest), Fr Lucio Dias (Episcopal Vicar, South Goa, who was then the Parish Priest of Assolna Church), Patrick D’Silva, Angelo Afonso, Darwin D’Silva, Agnelo Silva, Savio Silva, Nigel Caeiro, Nelson Caeiro, Agnelo D’Souza, Marcus Barros, Adolf Fernandes, Tony Rebello, Mario Rebello, Alin Rebello, Atorin Pereira, Anjelo Fernandes, Savio Pereira, Max Colaco, Adlete Mascarenhas, Agnelo D’Silva and Louis Fernandes. Amongst other offenses, the accused were also charged under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to commit murder).
