Locals could be involved in desecrations: DIG

the goan I networkrPANAJI/MARGAO rDeputy Inspector General of Goa Police Rupinder Kumar on Tuesday hinted that the culprits in the Curchorem graveyard desecration case could be locals. rSpeaking to the media at Police Headquarters, DIG Kumar, who has been monitoring the desecration cases, stated, “The culprits came on foot and scaled the side wall of the graveyard even while two parties were stationed at the foot of the hillock. They knew the terrain well or had done a recce. They could be locals.” rGraves and tombstones at the Guardian Angel Church graveyard in Curchorem were found desecrated on Monday despite heavy deployment of police in the vicinity. rDIG Kumar said that the team deployed near the Guardian Angel Church heard the noise first and alerted the other teams. All six men then swiftly went towards the graveyard and combed through the whole forested area. But it was too late as the culprits had disappeared on foot into the forest. r“It was a narrow miss. The police deployment in the area was up to the mark,” the senior cop said. rMeanwhile, it was learnt that the police are presently working on some leads and one company of Indian Reserve Battallion has been deployed in these sub-divisions throughout the day ad night. rIn the meantime, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said Goa police, and not an outside agency, are in a better position to achieve a breakthrough in the cases of desecrations, even as he commended the people for maintaining peace and calm despite grave provocations. rHe said the police have in their possession certain vital clues which can help the men-in-uniform to detect the cases. rAddressing the media after a meeting with the District Collector, Swapnil Naik, Additional Collector Johnson Fernandes, DySPs of Margao, Vasco, Quepem and Ponda sub-divisions, besides the in-charge of police stations, the TCP Minister said that outside police will not be in a position to resolve the cases since they do not understand the constraints and local social conditions. “My personal opinion is that the Goa police should be encouraged so that they put their heart and soul in detecting the cases,” he said. rHe said the people of Goa deserve commendation for maintaining peace and harmony despite provocations. “People have realized that the motive behind the desecrations is to create communal disharmony. This is real Goemkarponn,” he said. rHe, however, added that though the people have maintained peace and calm, the police should not go to sleep, but double up their efforts to nab the culprits. rThe TCP Minister said he has urged the police to forward a proposal to the government for the repairs and upkeep of the CCTV cameras in South Goa. “Since the local bodies have expressed their inability to maintain the CCTV cameras, I told the police to forward a proposal so that the home department can make some alternate arrangements in place,” he said. rSardesai also accepted a suggestion mooted by the police and district officials to make it mandatory for multi-storeyed buildings to install CCTV cameras, saying the suggestion will be placed before the government so that the necessary amendment to the TCP Act could be made.