Accused recall years of struggle and lost peace; seek reforms to prevent future trial delays
File photo of CID personnel undergoing treatment after an attack from a mob outside the Velim Church premises in February 2012. (Right) Fr Lucio Dias and other accused named in the Velim Church attack case along with lawyers after their acquittal.
MARGAO
The accused in the Velim Church attack case has said that justice has finally been done to them by the court, but pointed out that there was long delay in delivering justice.
The Episcopal Vicar, South Goa, Fr Lucio Dias, who was named as one of the accused persons in the case, said there is some of sort of joy in their hearts that the trial in the case has finally ended with the court acquitting all the accused persons.
He, however, hastened to add “While we believe that justice has been done to them, there was a long delay in delivering justice. The courts should take serious note of the delay. In the future, such type of cases may not be prolonged and justice may be given promptly.”
He said “The Velim incident had occurred way back in February 2012. Today, we are in 2025. Many villagers and others were named as accused in the case without any rhyme or reason.”
Another Velim villager named as accused in the case, Savio D’Silva echoed similar sentiments. He said that justice has been finally done to the accused persons and the Velim village who have been subjected to harassment in the case.
“Today, our then Parish Priest Fr Romano Gonsalves, who was named as an accused in the case, is no more. The court has done justice to Fr Romano as well. May the soul of Fr Romano and the other two accused Max Colaco and Angel uncle, rest in peace,” Savio said.
Smiles were lit on the faces of the remaining accused persons after Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, Gaunekar pronounced the judgment in the open court room on Thursday noon.
The accused persons have been doing the rounds of the Margao Civil and Criminal Court building since August 2025 when the Cuncolim police filed the chargesheet before the court earlier that year.
Villagers recall hardships in obtaining PCC for passports
MARGAO: Curtains have finally come down on the Velim Church attack case after over a decade-old prolonged trial, but villagers remember the ordeal faced by the village youngsters when they had to undergo hardships to obtain police clearance certificate from the CID or for passport renewal.
Velim plays host to a significant seafaring population and it is against this backdrop that youngsters from the village had to face the brunt of the men-in-uniform either for PCC clearance or passport renewal.
Fr Lucio Dias, who was one of the persons named as accused in the case, told The Goan after the case ended into an acquittal that the case had come in the way of village youth when they were unnecessarily dragged into the case. “Some of the accused lost their living as their plans of going abroad to make a future went haywire after the case. They were unnecessarily accused in the case, spoiling their lives and jeopardising their careers. I hope they will be able to make their future now,” he added.
Savio D’Silva also pointed out that after the village youth were falsely implicated in the case, they were harassed by the police when they went to the CID for police clearance certificates for passports or for passport renewal. “Our youth faced difficulties due to the harassment meted out to them by the police after the incident. I hope all that would come to an end now,” Savio added.
He thanked Adv Spencer Viegas and Adv Nirmala Paes for representing him and other accused persons in the case.
Late Fr Romano’s faith vindicated; he would be overjoyed: Lawyer
