Francisco Pereira was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), who also recovered equipment used to vandalise the structures
The Goa police on Saturday arrested one person for allegedly vandalising and desecrating religious structures across Goa. Francisco Pereira was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), who also recovered equipment used to vandalise the structures.
The accused, a resident of Curchorem in South Goa, told the police that he vandalised the crosses "just like that", with no intention to create any enmity. He also confessed to his involvement in recent vandalism incidents and revealed his involvement in such activities for the last 15 years.
Records have revealed that Pereira is a history-sheeter and was earlier convicted in an attempt to murder case. He had served imprisonment for three years.
"We are getting details from him about his involvement in previous cases. There were similar incidents six years back where religious structures were vandalised in similar fashion," said Muktesh Chandar, DGP of Goa police.
Pereira has been remanded in three days' police custody.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai and other senior bureaucrats immediately rushed to the Curchorem police station after the arrest of Francisco Pereira.
"We hope to solve maximum cases of such incidents in the past. I was confident that police would crack this case," said CM Parrikar after visiting the police station.
Vijai Sardesai appreciated people of Goa for maintaining calm in spite of such serious incidents. "I congratulate people of Goa for demonstrating our strong resolve in peace and communal harmony," he said.
Local MLA Nilesh Cabral has declared an award of Rs 50,000 for the cops who arrested the accused in a Bollywood-style chase.
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