MAPUSA: The relatives of the girls molested in Mangeshi temple have demanded the arrest of the accused priest by Dhananjay Bhave.
Two girls – one US-based and the other Mumbai-based – had complained to police that they were molested by Bhave inside the temple on separate occasions, on June 14 and June 22. Both the victims are of Goan origin.
The family members of both the victims say that both the girls are traumatized as a temple is the last place someone would expect to get molested.
An uncle of the US-based victim said that initially the family did not want to register a complaint, because Mangeshi temple their family deity and they did not want to bring bad publicity to this temple because of one man.
“We complained to the temple committee who failed to act and asked us to complaint to the police. We were left with no option and hence complained, because we did not want anyone further to get molested. The temple committee is shielding the accused,” stated the relative of the victim, who is originally from Cumbharjua.
In the past, sources say, several women had complained to the temple committee of such crimes, but action was taken as no one was ready to register an FIR. The father of US-based victim was the first to do so.
“One of the CCTV cameras in the temple shows the accused touching this girl. The footage is in possession of the Ponda police and we have seen it,” the uncle said.
“Once he taps her on the shoulder and the second time he has put his hand on her back. It is crystal clear that you are not supposed to touch a woman. The other view was not found but the recorder has been sent to the forensics lab and if someone has mischievously deleted the footage it will be revealed. Around seven to eight days before this incident there was another similar case,” he said.
“The committee claims that the CCTV footage is available only for 20 days. The Ponda police are doing a great job. We hope they arrest him,” he added.
The father of the Mumbai-based victim said that every year they visit Mangeshi temple. “We are sad that the temple committee failed to take any action in this matter,” he said.
