Spot Report by Raymond D’ Cunha Taccode

Moodbidri: Mar 19 [12.30 pm IST]:  Fr Gregory Serrao the parish priest of St Martin De Porres was assaulted by a parishioner on Sunday during the morning mass. Simon Mascarenhas the former vice president of Belvai panchayat and owner of Blossom Commercial Complex, Belvai over an announcement made by the priest.

According to Alwyn Quadros, vice president of the parish council who spoke to Daijiworld, the morning Mass which began at 8.45 am ended with the weekly announcements. When Fr Serrao read the announcements from the altar Simon rose from his seat rushed towards the altar and strangled the neck of Fr Serrao with a newspaper.

Shocked by this incident, the gathering reacted immediately and rushed to the rescue of the priest.  In turn, they were threatened by Mathew Mascarenhas, son of Simon and two of his friends Gilbert and John.

Simon who dragged the helpless Fr Serrao into the Sacristy pushed him to the ground. Fr Serrao fell to the ground with his chest down and was hurt.

Tension prevailed until Moodbidri SI Umapathi and his team rushed to the spot.

Sources also told Daijiworld that Simon was not in good terms with the parish parish after he had a tiff because of an announcement made by the latter during the Mass on March 12.

The news spread to the surrounding areas like wildfire and Belvai’s as well as other parishioners angrily condemned the attack, that too during the holy Mass inside the church. "Such a serious action is to be taken against the culprit, so that never such any incident of the kind would take place anytime within the Church..." says a senior parishioner of Belvai while speaking to daijiworld.com reporter.