PANJIM: The Goa government has externed Siolim-based Pastor Domnic D’Souza and wife Joan from the juraisdiction of North Goa district for a period of six months, with immediate effect.
The couple has been asked to report their place of residence to the nearest police station once every month, even if there is no change in their address. They have been also asked to report to the North Goa Collector within 10 days, whenever they move out of Goa.
They will also have to inform about their return to the State to the officer in-charge of the nearest police station.
Domnic was arrested in January this year by Goa Police on charges of alleged involvement in black magic and religious conversion activities, following a complaint by Tamil Nadu resident currently residing at Curti, Ponda. He was later released on bail.
The couple has been externed under the Goa Maintenance of Public Order and Safety Act, 1988. The SP North in his complaint had stated that there were number of cognisable cases registered against them under the various sections of the IPC, Section 7 and 10 of Madhya Pradesh Control Music Noises Act and Sections 3, 4 and 7 of Drugs and Magic Remedies Objectionable Advertisement Act. But in spite of being booked by the police, the respondents continued their acts of harassment and intimidation with impunity.
The police had prayed that POSA be invoked against them and in support submitted a list of criminal cases filed under IPC, MP Control Music Noises Act and Drugs and Magic Remedies Objectionable Advertisement Act.
Show cause notices were issued to both the respondents as to why order should be passed against them under Sections 3 and 4 (a) of POSA Act and remove them from the jurisdiction of North Goa district for a period that may extend up to two years.
During the hearings, the respondents claimed that they had not committed any cognisable case mentioned in the police report and that in few cases they have been discharged by the Court. Their lawyer also placed on record Court judgments and claimed that cases have been registered only to harass them. They prayed that the show cause notices and proceedings against them be dropped.
Representing the police, the public prosecutor told the District Magistrate that the judgments relied upon by the respondents were not applicable in the present cases as the present case registered was registered under POSA, 1988. He said even after granting conditional bail to them, two more cases were filed against the respondents and therefore it was a fit case for directions under the POSA. He urged the Court to pass appropriate order under POSA for externment.
