Colva: A court on Friday rejected the prosecution’s plea to withdraw the case against Fr Romanova Gonsalves and others in the Velim church police attack case. Margao judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) Ram Prabhudessai adjourned the case to October 5 to decide whether it should be tried before it or by the sessions court.
The court, rejecting the application, said that the issue remains of attempt to murder (Section 307, IPC) against the accused. As per this section, only a sessions court can try the case, The Times of India reported.
Head constable Krishnanand Rane strongly objected to the government’s decision to withdraw the case, stating that he was victim of the brutal assault by the mob. PI Kapil Naik too, had objected to the withdrawal. In his submission, he had stated: “The state government withdrawing the criminal case against the perpetrators of such heinous and grave crime is an insult to the police fraternity.”
On the night of February 25, 2012, police allegedly entered the residence of Velim parish priest Fr Romanova Gonsalves while he was praying.
On seeing the police at the church premises, news spread like wildfire and people gathered at the church. This subsequently turned into a law-and-order situation. Parishioners were further agitated on seeing the central paramilitary force personnel in such large numbers near the church.
This led to a confrontation between the police and the public, with the latter demanding reasons for trespassing onto the church premises late at night.
The mob allegedly turned violent and attempts by the priest to pacify the crowd failed. In the confusion, it is alleged that members of the public as well as some cops suffered injuries.