-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was a meeting at the Archbishop's palace at Altinho-Panaji on Monday the 09 January, 2006, to discuss the pattern of robberies in Goa's churches and to explore way of stopping this loot. Fr. Maverick Fernandes, Director of the [Diocesan]Council for Social Justice and Peace chaired the meeting on behalf of the Archbishop. He informed the persons present that, what had looked like random robberies, was falling into an organised pattern of thefts of art objects. There were 12 successful robberies between February and December, 2005. The matter has been discussed with the DGP and the DIG of Police, Panaji.
One of the participants in the interaction had an interesting story to tell. The St. Anne [or Santa Anna, the mother of Mary] chapel in Marra-Pilerne was broken in . It was on the night of 16/17 October, 2005. A FIR was lodged on 17 October, 2005, as soon as the theft was discovered. The 'Description' filed by the complainant includes 1. A life-size statue of St.Anne with her grandson, baby Jesus. The statue was donated by Mumbai-based Goans and is estimated at Rs.1.75 lakhs. There was a priceless, 200 year-old statue of St.Anne which was conservatively valued at Rs.8 lakhs. Six statues of half metre heights were taken from the side altars. Among the other items was a charity box with cash inside. The' Description' is signed by the Complainant but not the Police. So far, so good. Now comes the interesting part. According to the "Report " written in Marathi by Head Constable/Hawaldar K.S. Ghogate [HC 3395] has a disclaimer " Although the report is written in Marathi it has been explained to me in Konkani and it is true and correctly recorded as told by me." The inventory in the Report includes "two wooden statues of St. Ann, three old wooden crosses" a list of other "old wooden statues" and a donation box [fund-petti] with /Rs.10,000/-. The 'Report' is signed by the HC 3395 but not the Complainant. The First Information Report [Under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code] is listed as FIR No.79/05 dated 17/10/05 at Police Station No.183 [Porvorim] District 05 and the complaint is under Sections 454,457 and 380 of IPC [Indian Penal Code] against "unknown accused persons". The General Diary Reference Entry No. is 34/05 and the place of occurrence is Beat IX, 5 km. from the Police Station.[ In the case of St.Joseph's Chapel, Ansabhatt-Mhapsa, it is right next door to the Mhapsa Police Station. Yet it was robbed.] Surprisingly, the whole picture changes here. Under item 10" Total Value of Property stolen" the entry in the FIR reads " Rs.10,000/- and some wooden statues" as if describing some toys or curious of no inconsequence. That the "old wooden statues" are invaluable NOT value-less does not seem to have dawn on the police. The Porvorim Police Station Officer in Charge on that day was P.I.Serafin Dias. The FIR itself is unsigned by BOTH, the Police Inspector and the Complainant. It is not funny. The place of occurence of the crime is listed as" St. Ant chappel, Marra, Pillerna Berdez" in Roman Script and English by the same Policeman who recorded the Report in Marathi. His signature is in legible English and he is obviously educated in English medium school. So why is the report in Marathi? When the Complainant has given the list of stolen items in English, when the FIR form is written in English, when the copies of the Report are endorsed in English, when the signature of the HC is in English, why is the body text of the report in Marathi? What happens to the value of the statues? Why St. Ant?? Are other insects being canonised , too?? Above all, what is the progress in the case? Viva Goa. Miguel -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
