MARGAO: Former Velim MLA and ex-minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues submitted a detailed memorandum to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday and warned against letting the situation in the village get out of hand again.
“I appeal to you to intervene in the matter and order that the false and malicious chargesheet filed against law abiding citizens be withdrawn immediately,” Rodrigues said and called for an inquiry into the police actions in 2012 asking why no action has been taken against the cops. He was referring to the February 2012 incident at Velim church when police went to the church late night leading to a confrontation with the people.
For Rodrigues, the incident was a watershed moment as it eventually led to his defeat in the 2012 Assembly elections.
“It is a matter of surprise that no action has been taken against the police and no inquiry has been held as to why the police raided the church so late in the night, more so during election time despite knowing that the situation had already been tensed up by the earlier fiasco of income tax raid on the parish priest,” said Rodrigues.
“Innocent people have been unnecessarily framed and implicated in the charge sheet including the parish priest and the Episcopal Vicar while the actual culprits, namely the police, who created the scenario by their ill-advised raid on the church at an unearthly hour have been left scot free,” said Rodrigues.
He placed the facts before Parsekar where he referred to the ‘purported raid that as conducted on the Parish Priest of Velim by the Income Tax Office, backed by the Flying Squad at the disposal of the district Collector’.
“The action was totally provocative particularly as it was during the electioneering for the last Assembly elections and was against the spiritual head of the parish. As it happens, the Income Tax office has confirmed that nothing incriminating was found with the priest,” Rodrigues said in the memorandum.
He observed that the parishioners felt insulted that their parish priest had been raided without cause and without disclosing the name of the complainant and the nature of the complaint.
He recalled leading a delegation of the parish priest and the church committee to the chief electoral officer for a meeting with representative of the South Goa district Collector and Income Tax office and that the delegation was directed to the Collector, South but the situation continued to remain tense.
“However on February 25, 2012 the police without any cause went to the residence of the parish priest at around 9 pm at a time when the priest was in prayer and preparing for the Sunday homily and service,” stated Rodrigues.
“On seeing the police, people soon gathered at the Church Square and gradually a massive mob emerged and got further enraged on seeing Central Parliamentary Force personnel in large numbers near the church. There was a confrontation between the police and the public, the latter demanding the reasons for their trespass into the church premises so late in the night,” recalled Rodrigues.
He mentioned how the situation went out of control and attempts by the priest to pacify the crowd failed and in the confusion people and police personnel were injured.
“Now, it is seen that the police have filed a chargesheet against the local parish priest Fr Ramon Gonsalves, Episcopal Vicar Fr Lucio Dias and some other 20 parishioners under various sections of the IPC including attempt to murder,” said Rodrigues.
Rodrigues reminded Parsekar that his predecessor Manohar Parrikar had said in the Legislative Assembly on March 7 last year that “personally he felt the case should be closed”.
“The then chief minister had also expressed fears that there was a possibility of law and order problem in case any accused were arrested. The filing of the chargesheet has once again infuriated the villagers and a grave situation is emerging, which could create a law and order situation,” cautioned Rodrigues.
Rodrigues added that he had taken permission from GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro to make the statement.
