Police seeks ban on Bajrang Dal leaders near old Sancoale church

MARGAO
With two days to go for the feast of St Joseph Vaz at Sancoale, all eyes are focused on the South Goa district administration with the Goa Police making a plea to the authorities to bar entry of Bajrang Dal leader Jayesh Naik and others from entering the Verna Police Station jurisdiction.

Days after a video went viral wherein Jayesh is allegedly seen threatening officials of Department of Archaeology to stop the feast of St Joseph Vaz on January 16, the district police is reported to have turned to the district Magistrate, South with a request to restrict entry of Jayesh in the jurisdiction of Verna police station where the Old Church is located at Sancoale.

In fact, sources pointed out that the police has requested the district authorities to bar Jayesh and his group from visiting the place till the feast celebration and the completion of the election process in order to avert any communal tension, breach of peace and commission of cognizance offence to ensure smooth conduct of the feast and the elections.

Senior police officials in the know say the request has gone to the district authorities in order to handle the matter with tact, fearing that laxity may affect the social fabric between members of the Hindu and Catholic communities.

The police has not ruled out the possibility of communal tension in and around the Old Church Sancoale and elsewhere in the State as there’s a strong apprehension and every possibility that the group may create a situation at Sancoale on the day of the feast.

The police is believed to have recalled that the Verna police on January 2 last had received a written complaint filed by the Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale Parish Priest, alleging that a group consisting of 23 persons led by Jayesh had trespassed into the property/premises of Old Church, Sancoale and had allegedly stopped the cleaning work being carried out by the Church authority which was done in preparation for the novenas and feast of St Joseph Vaz scheduled on January 16.

The police had drawn the attention of the district authorities that the men-in-uniform had acted to maintain peace and harmony in the area by deploying an IRB platoon since the situation had turned tense around the Church vicinity.

Sources in the district Collectorate informed that the police in its report has made a mention of an incident in 2021, alleging how Jayesh and others had entered in the property and conducted the Hindu rituals ceremonies, prompting the police to submit a chapter case against the group before the SDM, Vasco. Incidentally, the police further pointed out that an offence was registered at the Verna police station against Jayesh and others. While the investigation stands complete in the case, sources say the case is awaiting sanction from the district authorities to file chargesheet in the court of law.