QUEPEM: Miscreants went on a rampage in Assolda-Quepem desecrating and vandalizing crosses at the cemetery at Our Lady of Miracles Chapel and also damaged tomb and dome of the Hindus and the window panes and flag pedestal of Assolda Panchayat on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
According to Quepem Police Sub Inspector Vinayak Patil, the incident at the cemetery came to light on Sunday morning. “Chapel Secretary Francisco Fernandes informed us about the incident and we rushed to the site and took stock of the situation,” informed PSI Patil.
PSI Patil further informed that five crosses on the graves, a cross at the entrance of the cemetery, one cross of mosaic stone which was behind the altar, one cross outside the cemetery and another cross on the roadside were damaged.
“Crime investigation team and dog squad were also pressed into service, but no clue has been found yet,” informed PSI Patil.
Police further informed that one tomb and a dome of Hindus were also damaged a few metres away from the cemetery on the same night.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, South Goa SP Shekar Prabhudessai and DySP S R Goltekar also visited the site to take stock of the situation.
Speaking to Herald, Our Lady of Immaculate Church, Paroda, Assistant Parish Priest Fr Natalin Fernandes, under whose jurisdiction the chapel falls, said when a woman remembering her relative on birthday went to offer prayers at the grave, she noticed the crosses on the graves vandalized.
Fr Fernandes said the woman immediately informed the local people who had gone to the Chapel to attend the Sunday mass. “Soon after the mass, we went to the cemetery and saw the crosses damaged and we immediately informed Quepem police about the incident.”
Later, Parish Priest Fr Domnick Noronha also visited the site and met the parishioners from Assolda.
Further investigation is in progress and PSI Patil is investigating the case under the supervision of PI Pravin Gauns.
On the same night, some miscreants damaged the window panes of the Assolda Panchayat building and also damaged the cemented flag pedestal.
Speaking to Herald, Sarpanch Sukash Dessai said: “I went to the chapel to take stock of the situation and when I went to the panchayat to attend the gram sabha, the panchayat secretary told me about the damages. We immediately informed Quepem police and filed a police complaint against unknown culprits.”
The sarpanch has condemned the incident and said he has asked the police to intensify night patrolling and to keep a watch on anti-social elements.
