VASCO
Members of a group installed the idol of Vijaya Durga Goddess near the frontispiece of the old Sancoale Church in the wee hours of Friday morning.
According to a video which went viral on social media, the members were seen appealing to people to come in large numbers to visit the idol and offer prayers claiming that a Vijaya Durga Temple existed at the site but was demolished several centuries ago.
“We have installed the idol of Vijaya Durga Goddess which we found in Sancoale, which was earlier known as “Shankh Vhaal”. We had found an idol of Vijaya Durga Goddess at this location in the waters a few months ago and we have established it back at its original location,” said a member of the group.
One receiving news of the incident, a police team went to the site later in the day.
Police sources said the idol was later taken into the safe custody at an undisclosed location and a police team has been stationed at the site to avert any tension in the area.
It may be recalled that a Calangute resident visiting his maternal uncle’s house at Sancoale had found an idol of Vijaya Durga Goddess in the Zuari river while fishing on May 22. The idol was later kept in a Goushala.
A large number of Hindu groups and devotees then visited the Sancoale Goushala to have a look at the idol and offer prayers, prompting locals in the area to demand the construction of a Vijaya Durga temple in Sancoale.
