Margao: Fr Lucio Dias, who has been named in the Velim Church assault case by Cuncolim police has requested the government to withdraw the cases against the 22 accused.
Fr Dias said that the government has the power to withdraw the case and should do it. He has also discussed the case with DyCM Francis D’Souza.
Velim MLA Benjamin Silva has also committed himself to the withdrawal of the case and is waiting for the procedures to reach the level of government intervention. The petition with signatures from parishioners from Velim and neighbouring parishes will be sent to the local MLA on Wednesday.
Fr Dias said that no murder attempt was made by the priests or the people against the police who came to the Church that night. “We were trying to protect the police from the people, we knew that if they were left there they would have been beaten up,” said Fr Dias. “We had contacted the police for protection for the two policemen but they said they have no personnel. We had to leave that place after that,” he added.
Fr Dias said that the policemen had come to the Church twice and late at night which the people had not liked, goacom reported..
Cuncolim Police Inspector Gurudas Kadam said that summons have been issued to all the accused but haven’t yet been served.
“The case is at a juncture at which the government can’t intervene. Once a chargesheet is filed and summons are issued then it’s possible hence we are waiting for the right time and I request the people not to worry because I am on my toes to get the issue finished,” said Silva.
“I will submit the letter signed by the villagers of Velim to the chief minister. I am putting pressure on the government that the case be dropped as soon as possible,” Silva said.