Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Dec 12: Acting swiftly, the police on Monday December 12 arrested one person in connection to the breaking of St Antony statue at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva.
The accused is Benedict D'Souza (57), a resident near Shirva Society.
A driver by profession, Benedict broke the statue in an drunken stupor, police sources said. His wife and daughter are staying abroad.
He was arrested near Bantakal bus stand on Monday evening.
It is said that on Sunday morning, he had a fight with some migrants from another state who were residing nearby. He came to the church to pray, and in a fit of frustration that his prayers were not being answered coupled with drunkenness, he is said to have tried switching the positions of St Antony and St Lawrence statues. In the process, the statue of St Antony fell off the pedestal and shattered, sources said.
On learning about his fight with the migrants, the police took Benedict into custody and during interrogation, he is said to have admitted to having broken the statue.
The statue of St Antony at the church was found shattered to pieces on Sunday December 11. Condemning the incident, the Shirva parish pastoral council on Monday called a meeting and gave a deadline of three days to the police to arrest the culprits, failing which a protest would be held on December 16. Following the incident, several political leaders and bishop Dr Gerald Lobo and other priests visited the church and urged for quick action in the case.
Earlier Update
Shirva parish gives three-day deadline to police
Pics: Steeven Colaco
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Updated
Udupi, Dec 12: Following the act of vandalism at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva, by miscreants on Sunday December 12, politicians and various locals leaders visited the church to take stock of the situation.
Bishop of Udupi diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, chairman of minority commission M A Gafoor, Ronald Karkada, KPCC member Dinesh Puthran, Narasimha Murthy of Udupi town planning, Nagesh Kumar Udyavar, zilla panchyat member Wilson Rodrigues, ICYM Udupi diocese president Loyal D'Souza, Fr Mahesh D'Souza, Fr Canute Barboza, Sunil Kabral and president of Catholic Sabha, Shirva deanery Melwyn Aranha, and gram panchayat member Leena Mathias visited the church later in the day.
The parish pastoral council of Shirva Church has given a deadline of three days to the police to arrest the culprits, failing which, a protest would be held. A parish pastoral council meeting was held in the morning, wherein it was decided to give the police time until Thursday December 15 to arrest the culprits. If the police fail to do so by Thursday 15 evening, a huge protest would be held by the parishioners on Friday December 16 at 4 pm, the council said.
Among those who visited the spot were MLC Ivan D'Souza, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje, Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA Lalaji R Mendon, zilla panchayat member Wilson D’Souza, Palimar gram panchayat president Jeetendra Furtado and David D'Souza of Mudrangadi gram panchayat.
Speaking to media persons, Ivan D'Souza condemned the incident and demanded swift action from the police.
On Sunday night and Monday morning, around 50 parishioners held a minor protest demanding proper investigation into the matter.
District superintendent of police K T Balakrishna visited the place with circle inspector (Kaup) B J Halamurthy and Shirva police sub-inspector Lakshman.
As per the information available, all the 5 cameras installed at the entrance of the church were not working. Though Sunday is a busy day for the church, people are not normally seen in the church premises after lunch. The miscreants must have used this opportunity to commit the act, it is suspected.
The canine squad found out that the miscreants escaped from the side of the English medium school. The cameras installed at the school may provide some clues.
Meanwhile, Udupi district BJP president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde has demanded stern action against the culprits.
Earlier Report: Dec 11
Udupi: Miscreants destroy St Antony statue at Shirva Church
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Dec 11: In a shameful act, miscreants vandalised the statues at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva here on Sunday December 11.
While the statue of St Antony was completely shattered, the statue of St Lawrence was displaced.
The incident is suspected to have taken place between 1 pm and 3.30 pm.
On receiving information, police arrived at the spot and investigations are on.
Following the incident, security has been beefed up in and around the church premises.
A case has been registered in Shirva police station.
Meanwhile, Catholic Sabha Udupi president Valerian Fernandes strongly condemned the incident and urged the police to arrest the culprits soon.
"We have no clue about who has done this. May the Lord forgive them,” said Fr parish priest Stany Tauro.