Panaji
Keeping the "desecration controversy alive, the Congress on Friday demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the series of desecration involving around 100 holy crosses, graves and some Hindu temple idols, particularly in South Goa over the last few months.
Goa Congress president Shantaram Naik said on Friday that only a thorough probe by the CBI would help get to the bottom of the series desecration of crosses, in which the state police have arrested two persons, both of whom are alleged to be "mentally unstable".
"We are going to write a letter to the Central Home Ministry and at the same time request the Chief Minister of Goa to request the Centre to institute a CBI inquiry into the desecration series," Mr. Naik said.
Mr. Naik attacked the ruling BJP calling the party anti-minorities.
The Goa Police in July had arrested a taxi driver Francis Pereira(50) of Curchorem in South Goa recently as accused in the desecration cases. Police claimed that Pereira was of “unsound mind” and was responsible for more than 100 desecration cases across the state in last some years.
Prior to that, the Police also claimed to have tracked down a native of Jharkhand for another desecration of 12 crosses in Madkai village of Ponda taluk in July, but said that he was psychologically unwell and would be brought to Goa after he recuperates.
However, a report of a fact-finding committee involving a Goa Church affiliated boy, Council for Social Justice and Peace, which claimed that the police investigation into the desecration series is a sham has invited censure from the ruling BJP which called it an unsuccessful attempt to polarise voters ahead of recently held two assembly by-elections which were comfortably won by the BJP.(eom)