MARGAO
Sao Jose de Areal residents woke up on Tuesday to hear the shocking news of the statue of the Patron saint St Joseph installed near the Panchayat Ghar desecrated by unknown miscreants.
A couple of religious images near a Cross at Nessai in the village were also vandalised by the miscreants.
Village Sarpanch Minguel Gomes and former Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas have termed the incident as an attempt to disturb the peace and communal amity prevailing amongst the various sections of society.
The incident had come to light late Monday night when unknown miscreants damaged the St Joseph statue installed near the Areal Panchayat Ghar.
Social activist Freddy Travasso and others rushed to the spot upon hearing the news. The Maina-Curtorim police was also informed about the incident.
Travasso said the incident has come as a shock since the statue of St Joseph was found desecrated by the vandals. He said the incident was an attempt to disturb the communal peace and amity in the village.
Sarpanch Minguel Gomes along with panchayat members visited the spot on Tuesday morning to take stock of the situation. “What has happened at Areal is indeed bad. I fail to understand why the miscreants directed their ire at the statue,” he wondered, adding that another statue was also found damaged at Nessai area in the village.
Former Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas pointed out that desecration of religious objects were targetted by the miscreants during 2007-09. “We would like to appeal to the miscreants not to disturb the peace and brotherhood amongst the people. We have told the police to resolve the case and punish the guilty,” he said.
To a question, Vincy said the CCTV cameras installed at the Panchayat Ghar were not in operation at the time of the incident and so could not capture the same. “The incident could not be captured on the CCTV cameras installed at the Panchayat Ghar due to some problem. We will move the BDO to grant approval,” he said.
Meanwhile, local residents met near the Panchayat Ghar to take stock of the situation arising out of the desecration incident. After the meeting, the residents decided to call on the sarpanch on March 31.
Maina-Curtorim police station in-charge, PI Mohan Gawde informed that the police has registered an FIR against unknown miscreants in connection with the incident. He said the police has started investigations into the matter.
