ISLAMABAD: A historic 17th century Catholic Church in India’s Western coastal state of Goa was desecrated, fuelling concern for Christians; prompting State Assembly Speaker to say “desecration is meant to create communal tension.
According to Christian Post, media reported that St Anthony Church at Cabo de Rama in Southern part of Goa, a coastal tiny state between Maharashtra and Karnataka was seen ransacked by unknown men most probably hindu extremists.
A case has been registered against unknown persons under Sections 295, 295 (A) and 153 (A) IPC. A Special Investigation Team has been set up to probe the incident.
The incident was taken seriously by the Goa State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. The Speaker Pratapsing Rane Tuesday said increasing instances of religious structures being desecrated reflect a conscious effort by some forces to foment communal tension.
Goa was ruled by the Portuguese since 1510 unlike the rest of India colonised by the British; many of its subjects embraced Christianity making the Christians a formidable force in the state. It became part of India only in 1961 though India got its independence from the British in 1947.
Currently, Christians make up about 27 percent of Goa’s population of 1.3 million people, according to 2001 census of the government of India. Hindus form the largest religious group with 66 percent; Muslims make up about 7 percent in one of the states where Christians influence is felt in all spheres of lives.
Various sources said nearly 30 reported incidents of desecration have rocked Goa in the last couple of years, forcing Goa Police to form a special investigation team (SIT) to probe these. Unable to crack the mystery, the Police have now set up a force in the more remote regions of the state to prevent further incidents of desecration.