the goan I network\rQUEPEM \rGoa police achieved a major breakthrough in the multiple desecration of religious structures in Salcete and Quepem talukas, when a 54-year-old former convict and taxi driver from Morailem-Curchorem was nabbed following extensive midnight police operations in the area. The accused, Francisco Xavier Pereira, was spotted by a police team while he was allegedly attempting to desecrate another religious structure in the wee hours of Saturday, after reportedly believing that spirits were tr
apped in the religious structures. \rChief Minister Manohar Parrikar has praised the efforts of Goa police in achieving the breakthrough, after the government was under mounting pressure to hand over the case to the CBI to tackle several incidents of desecrations within a fortnight. \rTHE OPERATIONS \rAfter being confronted by several desecrations of religious structures in Salcete and Quepem talukas, the police had intensified night patrolling in the region, posting several police teams across different areas to spot the culprit planning to target other religious structures. \rExtensive midnight operations paid off when one police team, comprising Traffic PI Ravindra Dessai, Constables Avinash Naik and Vishal Buimbar, on night patrol in Morailem spotted Pereira leaving his house in a van in a suspicious manner at about 3.15 am. \rSuspecting that he could be involved in the desecration of religious structures and was planning another such vandalism, they stopped the van and began to question him. \rPereira reportedly offered no resistance and allegedly admitted to his involvement in the desecrations, police said. \rThe police later seized his van and the hammer found in the vehicle, which is believed to have been used to desecrate the religious structures. Police also went to his house and collected more evidence. \rTHE CONFESSION \rPereira allegedly did not express guilt or remorse over his actions, adding that he had no ill-feelings against any one. Police said Pereira was willing to pay for the damage caused to desecrated crosses and even claimed that he had money in his bank. \rPereira told the police that as a taxi driver, he would take note of several religious structures during his trips. He claimed to have vandalised the religious structures alone and did not want to work in a group, as he was afraid the information could have been leaked out by other members. \rPolice said Pereira would carefully plan each desecration, to avoid being caught in the act. He was aware of police patrolling in the area and would avoid that particular area, fully aware that the patrolling teams would not return to the same area twice. \rPereira told police that he believed that spirits were trapped in the crosses and religious structures and felt the need to break them in order to release these spirits from the crosses. \rPereira also reportedly told police that he had been involved in the desecration of religious structures during the last two weeks. He also admitted that he had broken the CCTV camera and focus light at the Curchorem cemetery on July 10 to avoid detection. \rPolice claimed that Pereira had intentions to continue desecrating crosses from across the State. \r\r Pereira is a bachelor & was self-employed as taxi driver \r Was convicted to three years in prison in an attempt to murder case in 2000 \r Was released in 2003 \r Over a period of 14 years, is reported to have admitted vandalising 150 religious structures \r Was well aware of news and current affairs by reading newspapers\r Reportedly kept cuttings of newspaper reports on various crimes\r Was also known to govt authorities; would file several petitions \r Had once contested local municipal council elections, but was defeated
