More destroyed Crosses in Goa. But the Catholic 'culprit' is already in prison
by Nirmala Carvalho

Last night the Caranzalem cemetery was defiled. At least 12 Crosses destroyed near the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima. The burial site was intact when the Catholic Francis Pereira was arrested. Sajan K George: "Christians are easy targets."

 


Panaji (AsiaNews) - More destroyed crosses and another desecrated cemetery. This is what happened in the last few hours in the state of Goa, where vandalism in the sacred places of the Christian community have been ongoing from the beginning of July. The latest episode, most likely perpetrated to intimidate the religious minority, happened last night at the Caranzalem cemetery, where some Crosses were destroyed near the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima. All this confirms even more the unfounded allegations against Francis Pereira, the Catholic who was arrested two weeks ago charged with the attacks. At the time, he was in prison.

The damage to the cemetery was discovered yesterday when a Christian named Silveira went to pray at the graveside of his wife, who died about six months ago. Shocked for the destruction of the Cross above his wife’s grace and those of at least another twelve, he raised the alarm.

Local Witnesses report that the burial site was intact when Pereira was arrested by Curchorem police. The agents are onsite and are now investigating a supposed Catholic involvement already in the arrests.

Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (Gcic), affirms to AsiaNews: "Christians are easy targets. Pereira's arrest is just a smoke screen to divert attention from the deep suffering of Christians.” He recalls that "since the Hindu Janajagruthi Summit (Hjs) had its rally at the beginning of the year, minorities live in a climate of insecurity. More than 150 groups of saffron [Hindu nationalists] participated in that meeting, who outlined an action plan for [the creation] of a Hindu Rashtra [Hindu nation]. "

The Christian leader denies that the various lynching episodes [of Muslims, ndr] and the Gau Rakhsha [the Hindu nationalists who act as "cow protectors", prepared to use violence in defense of the life of their sacred animal] have intensified intimidation against minorities  nationwide."