PORVORIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has not ruled out a political angle to the desecration of Crosses at a cemetery at Marcaim, even as he assured that the miscreant/s behind the desecration will be arrested. He informed the House that Francis Pereira, arrested in religious vandalism this month, denied his involvement in this case.
“It is sad,” Parrikar said replying to a Zero Hour mention tabled by Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar. “I cannot guarantee people taking inspiration (from Pereira) and doing it (defacing the religious structures). An FIR has been filed in this case. There could be various angles to it, there could be political link. Police have got definite clue. Give them 3-4 days (to arrest the culprit/s),” he said not ruling out a political angle to it.
The incident at the Fatima Chapel cemetery came to light on Tuesday even as the exact day when the desecration occurred is not clear. Parrikar said that Pereira has denied involvement in the Marcaim case. “He (Pereira) has shown places where people were unaware about the desecration of shrines. Not only Crosses but Tulsi and Ghumtis have also been defaced by him. The desecration of Crosses was in large number because the area where he lives has more Crosses,” he said.
Kavalekar pointed out that the desecration continues despite the arrest of the 50-year-old ex-convict indicating the involvement of more than one person behind the act. “Twelve Crosses have been desecrated at Marcaim despite the arrest of Francis Pereira. I had earlier brought to the notice of the House that there could be more persons involved in the desecration of shrines in the State,” he said.
In a major breakthrough, Goa Police had arrested Pereira in mid-July following a spate of desecrations. In his video confession to the Curchorem police, the local taxi driver had confessed to desecrating shrines since 2003 when he was released after serving a sentence in an attempt to murder case. He took the police to nearly all the places of crime and even admitted of plans to desecrate statues of Abe Faria in Panjim and the Fulancho Khuris in Bambolim.
There are, however, apprehensions from various sections that Pereira carried out the crime alone. The Marcaim incident shocked the State as Pereira who allegedly confessed to have vandalised 150-odd shrines is still behind the bars.
