Mangalore: Bishop Promises all out Efforts to withdraw Church Attack Cases
Daijiworld Media Network - FR
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Mangalore, Dec 18: A review meeting of Catholics against whom cases were registered following the incidents after the attack on the places of worship in 2008, was held at the Bishop’s house today. The Bishop of Mangalore diocese Rt Rev Aloysius Paul D Souza presided over the meeting along with advocate Ivan D Souza, who is the lawyer for 38 cases filed against Catholics belonging to different parishes of Mangalore diocese. The representatives of the accused from different parishes participated in the review meeting.
Advocate Ivan D Souza said that the main purpose of the meeting was to review the progress made with regard to these cases and also the steps taken to withdraw the cases pending in the court. Giving an account of the cases following the completion of two years Ivan D Souza said “of the 34 cases handled by me judgment has been passed acquitting 54 people in 12 cases. 26 cases are still pending involving about 191 people and constant efforts are being made to withdraw these pending cases at the earliest ”.
Ivan also stated that though cases are pending against 191 people in 26 cases the actual number of people against whom cases are pending is only about 80 as the names of some accused have duplicate entries. In some of the cases so far even the charges are not framed. He explained about the difficulties of the lawyers attending the cases and said that when cases are booked against a group even if one person fails to attend the case, the hearing gets postponed. Despite these difficulties “I have not allowed to issue warrants against any of the accused so far”, he pointed out. He also declared that since the police are the witnesses in most of the cases it is not easy to deal with the cases. He also reiterated that despite assurances by the government so far cases are not withdrawn. “Let them make it clear if they are not withdrawing the cases. I will fight them. But now they are neither framing charges not withdrawing the cases”, he declared.
Ivan D Souza also brought it to the notice of the gathering that the Bishop was primarily responsible for giving a detailed account of the happenings to the Somshekar Commission whenever the commissioner visited here or other places. “If the Somshekar Commission has given any favorable report, it is mainly due to the efforts of the diocese under the leadership of the Bishop”, he opined.
Ivan D Souza also denied the accusations and made it clear that he has not taken money for defending the cases from the accused. “If at all the accused have given any money it is only against the penalty and not the lawyers fees”, he stated.
Bishop of Mangalore Rt Rev Aloysius Paul D Souza stated the diocese has made every effort to help those against whom cases are registered. “I have met the Home Minister many times and every time he promised with folded hand that he would withdraw the cases. The public prosecutor also told us that the cases will be withdrawn. But nothing has been done because the Somshekar Commission is yet to submit its report. Once the report is submitted, which will be done very soon, we are hopeful that all the case will be withdrawn”, he stated.
The Bishop also stated that despite the mounting criticisms accusing the diocese of not doing anything concrete against those whom cases are registered, “we will continue with the good work we have begun and we will do everything to ensure these cases are withdrawn. We will not rest till we get it done”.
The representatives who participated in the meeting explained their difficulties and sought clarifications on certain matters pertaining to the cases against them.
Diocesan PRO Fr William Menezes and CODP Director Fr Onil D Souza were also present on the occasion.