PANJIM: The followers and supporters of Pastor Domnic D’Souza of Sodiem-Siolim on Saturday threatened to stage hunger strike if the authorities fail to revoke the ban on religious activities conducted by him and his wife Joan in their institutional premises at Sodiem-Siolim.
Speaking to mediapersons, Zenobia Anil Kamat e D’Souza said that the North Goa Collector had clamped Section 144 CrPC on religious activities conducted by Domnic D’Souza and his wife Joan at the 5 Pillars Christian Church, at Sodiem-Siolim and even at their residence.
e D’Souza said that the authorities had not given a copy of the order and they applied for the certified copy after coming to know about the decision through media.
“We have been practising for last 20 years and it is stopped. Our rights have been suddenly infringed,” she said adding that in view of the development the New Year midnight services will not be held.
“Our concern is that we have been denied our fundamental rights. Most of the cases cited by the Collector have been either made ‘A’ or ‘C’ summary or won by us and there are few cases now,” she said alleging that the police have suppressed the status of the cases.
One particular case of in which the Pastor was accused of molestation the Decree passed by the Civil Court where the complainant acknowledged that she had filed a false complaint which is suppressed before the Collector with malicious intention. In one case, a police officer refused to take electronic evidence in his investigation maliciously. However, recently in a revision application, it was allowed to be brought on record. e D’Souza wondered that as to why the facts of the cases were not placed before the Director General of Police (DGP) and demanded that the authorities should stop the ongoing harassment.
