MARGAO
Accused Francis Pereira may not have left any trail of evidence in the scores of desecrations of religious structures and places that took place across the state over a decade now.
But, a scribbling on the Holy Bible at the St Anthony Church, Cabo de Rama, which was desecrated at the dead of night on August 3, 2009 has come to haunt the accused seven years later as the men-in-uniform, investigating into the host of desecration cases across the state, plan to nail the accused with this crucial p
iece of evidence.
Though the Goa police was quick to blame accused Francis with the scores of desecrations of religious structures across the state that literally took Goa on the edge, the scribbling on the Holy Bible offers an opportunity for the men-in-uniform to prove the accused's involvement in the Church desecration case.
"The scribbling on the Holy Bible at the St Anthony Church at Cabo de Rama is a very crucial piece of evidence against the accused. The accused can be nailed with this evidence in this particular case. The scribbling on a newspaper that was found in the Guardian Angel cemetery also offer some sort of evidence," remarked a senior police official in the know.
He added: "The scribbling on the Holy Bible is a first piece of evidence that has been left behind by the accused after the desecration given that the scribbling on the Holy Bible is a rare piece of evidence, which if proved, could prove costly for the accused, the police are taking utmost care in this respect."
The Holy Bible was attached by the Cuncolim police after the desecration came to light at Cabo de Rama, but was later handed back over to the Church authorities as per the Court order.
"Accused Francis has admitted having scribbled on the Holy Bible with a quote. If proved by handwriting experts, the accused will not only land in trouble, but would help the investigators that the spate of desecrations were the handiwork of this person," informed a senior police official.
Cuncolim Police station in-charge, PI Shailesh Nagvenkar said that the police would send the specimen handwriting of the accused along with the writing on the Holy Bible and his routine handwriting to the handwriting experts for opinion. The police have the option to forward the handwriting material either to Chandigarh or Hyderabad for expert opinion.
"The Cuncolim police are complying with the procedure of taking the specimen writing of the accused. After the procedure is completed, the writings will be dispatched to the handwritings experts for opinion," informed a senior police officer.
Though the Goa police was quick to blame accused Francis with the scores of desecrations of religious structures across the state that literally took Goa on the edge, the scribbling on the Holy Bible offers an opportunity for the men-in-uniform to prove the accused's involvement in the Church desecration case.
"The scribbling on the Holy Bible at the St Anthony Church at Cabo de Rama is a very crucial piece of evidence against the accused. The accused can be nailed with this evidence in this particular case. The scribbling on a newspaper that was found in the Guardian Angel cemetery also offer some sort of evidence," remarked a senior police official in the know.
He added: "The scribbling on the Holy Bible is a first piece of evidence that has been left behind by the accused after the desecration given that the scribbling on the Holy Bible is a rare piece of evidence, which if proved, could prove costly for the accused, the police are taking utmost care in this respect."
The Holy Bible was attached by the Cuncolim police after the desecration came to light at Cabo de Rama, but was later handed back over to the Church authorities as per the Court order.
"Accused Francis has admitted having scribbled on the Holy Bible with a quote. If proved by handwriting experts, the accused will not only land in trouble, but would help the investigators that the spate of desecrations were the handiwork of this person," informed a senior police official.
Cuncolim Police station in-charge, PI Shailesh Nagvenkar said that the police would send the specimen handwriting of the accused along with the writing on the Holy Bible and his routine handwriting to the handwriting experts for opinion. The police have the option to forward the handwriting material either to Chandigarh or Hyderabad for expert opinion.
"The Cuncolim police are complying with the procedure of taking the specimen writing of the accused. After the procedure is completed, the writings will be dispatched to the handwritings experts for opinion," informed a senior police officer.
