Panaji Police on Thursday reportedly detained a 33-year-old man for allegedly desecrating a cross on the Altinho-Panaji slope after a complaint was lodged since it could hurt religious sentiments. It is learnt that an FIR under section 295 of IPC was registered following the complaint. However due to indications of mental illness, the accused was referred to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) for treatment.
Be that as it may, in the past Goa has witnessed several incidents of vandalism of roadside religious structures, including crosses and Hindu religious symbols. It may be recalled that in July 2017 about 40 crosses and gravestones were vandalized by miscreants at a cemetery in Curchorem. Thankfully all such anti-social activities have not resulted in any reaction from the citizens because Goans are a peace-loving people and such cowardly acts by some miscreants cannot disturb the communal harmony that Goa is known for all over the globe.
However it seems absolutely necessary to take remedial steps in order to prevent such incidents of vandalism. Police cannot keep a watch on all religious structures given the sheer number of them present by the roadside. Hence it would be advisable to have some metal fencing or a gated metal grill enclosure put up around each of these roadside religious structures in order to prevent miscreants causing damage to them.
