PANAJI: The Goa Police on Saturday arrested a 50-year-old man from Curchorem in South Goa for his alleged involvement in desecrating holy crosses in the last few days.
South Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas told reporters that Francisco Pereira, a former convict, works as a taxi driver. He was caught on Saturday morning while he was allegedly about to desecrate another cross in Curchorem village.
“After meticulous and painstaking efforts, the Goa Police have been able to solve the recent cases of desecration of religious places,” said Muktesh Chander, Director General of Police.
The police have recorded a video confession of the accused, in which Mr. Pereira has said that he would break holy crosses in order to release “the spirits trapped in them”. He told the police that he has been vandalising crosses since 2003, and has been involved in around 150 desecration cases.
A number of crosses, gravestones and an artefact outside a Hindu temple were desecrated in the State over the last few weeks.
Talking to The Hindu , Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar appreciated the efforts of the Goa Police.
Mr. Gawas said Mr. Pereira was a “one-man-squad” with his “own ideology”. Probe demanded
The Council for Social Justice and Peace, a social wing affiliated with the Goa Church, has demanded a judicial probe into the cases, saying the vandalism is part of a larger nationwide conspiracy.
Hindu right-wing organisation Hindu Janajagruti Sanstha said the police must investigate whether Mr. Pereira is in any way connected with the Believers, teaching “worship only one God and throw away the idols”.
Chetan Rajhans, spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha, said the government should take action against those disturbing communal harmony by making false allegations against the Sanstha and Sadhvi Saraswati.
