Team Herald
PANJIM/MAPUSA: “Goa Police take matters of assault very serious, act on a religious leader priest isn’t correct. We have zero tolerance for any such acts even when people takes law in their own land,” said North Goa Superintendent of Police Sobhit Saxena on Tuesday morning when questioned about the Saligao priest assault case.
While elaborating on the case, SP Saxena said that the accused person Joseph Gerald D’Souza (66), resident of Pequen-Morod, Saligao had his property adjourning to the church, and some renovation work is on. Due to which there was an issue between the parish priest of the church and the accused person. The accused person has verbally abused, threatened and also assaulted the priest.
On Monday evening, the situation turned tense in Saligao after several villagers gheraoed the Saligao Panchayat demanding action against the local for threatening, assaulting and abusing the parish priest of Saligao church.
The accused person had assaulted the parish priest of Saligao with fist blows on his face, abused him with filthy language and threatened with dire consequences over the issue of dumping mud in the field.
SP Saxena added that the Saligaonkars came out in protest outside the Saligao-Calangute Police Station after a complaint was lodged by the parish priest. The matter got escalated after the complaint but after the accused person was arrested, thing were in control and people were sent back. The police team also conducted a medical examination of Saligao priest and on examining the medical report we found that he was hurt and it was a case of simple hurt.
As the news spread like wildfire, shocked and angry villagers from Saligao and neighbouring villages rushed to the Calangute Police Station shouting slogans and demanding justice. The police defused the situation by quickly arresting the accused.
The accused arrested in Saligao priest attack was sent to one day police custody and will be produced before the JMFC Court Mapusa for remand on Wednesday.
