NTNETWORK
MARGAO
Tension prevailed at Rachol on Sunday after two students of a professional institution hurt religious sentiments of Roman Catholics when they got into the Our Lady of Snows Church when mass was going on and took Holy Communion. But they did not eat it. Instead one of them threw the Host down on the ground, stamped on it and covered it with mud.
This ‘sacrilegious’ behaviour offended the faithful attending the mass who detained the two students. Later, the students were handed over to the police who took them to the police station and released on submission of a written apology.
Trouble started when Sanny Agrawal and Bhojraj Sikarwar, the two first year students of BITS Pilani entered the church when Eucharistic ministers were giving Holy Communion to the congregation at around 9. 10 am. They too stood in the queue. One of the students received the Holy Communion on the palm and took a photograph of the Host on mobile phone.
The second student received the Host on tongue but soon spitted it out on the ground, stamped on it and covered it with mud.
This offending ‘misdeed’ was seen by a few parishioners outside the church. They rushed towards the students, caught hold of them and kept them kneeling down till the parish priest finished the mass, an eyewitness said.
The news of the ‘desecration’ of the Holy Communion spread like wildfire and anguished people started pouring in at the church. Sensing situation going out of hand, the police were called in. However, they found it difficult to pacify over 200 agitated people.
Later, a PSI came and in the presence of an elected representative the police took the students to the police station.
“As soon as I finished the mass I went to them. The parishioners had gathered and the two students were detained. The religiously hurt parishioners did not easily leave them. I instructed the people not to beat up the students. Instead we would conduct an inquiry as to whether they were sent by some fanatic groups, or whether there was any other purpose. The angry parishioners were not in a mood to listen to me. As the institution head had been informed about the incident and he had assured to come to the spot, the people were patiently waiting for him. We waited for three and half hours, and when the police reached the spot the students were handed over to them. The parishioners were curious to know whether there was any plan to disturb and hurt our religious harmony,’’ parish priest Fr Eremito Rebello said.
He said that he has asked the police to probe the antecedents of the two students and whether they are linked to any antisocial elements.
Rebello said, “The way the two students narrated the incident it appears to me that the incident occurred was unintentional. But the parishioners were deeply hurt. Their religious sentiments were hurt and many gathered because of it. They (parishioners) are now harbouring doubts whether these two students were sent by some antisocial elements to disturb the peace. Since the Catholic faith teaches forgiveness, I have not registered a criminal complaint. If we do so, they would be dismissed from the institution and their career will get spoiled.’’
A woman eyewitness S Fernandes said that if these two had no intention to hurt religious sentiments then why did one student receive the Holy Communion and photograph the Host keeping it on the palm and the other stamp on it.
“When we questioned them about it they kept quiet. If we had done this with other faiths we would not have been spared. A proper inquiry needs to be conducted. The case should be registered…,” she said.
Sources said the two students told Fr Rebello that a three-day sports event was being held in the BITS Pilani. Since they were not taking part in it the two students toured North Goa on Saturday and on Sunday they were on a visit to South Goa on a hired bike. They first went to Big Foot, Loutolim, which they found closed. Then they came to Rachol, a historic village. When they reached the village, the Eucharistic celebration was on in the church.
The congregation was receiving the Holy Communion. They too joined the line. Since they found the Communion tasteless, they said they spitted it out, stamped on it and covered it with mud.
The two students submitted a written apology to the parish priest, and only then they were allowed to proceed on.
The police, who also received a copy of the apology, are investigating the case.
Condemning the ‘sacrilege’, Rachol sarpanch Joseph Vaz said, “I strongly demand that the police should conduct a proper inquiry into it to explain whether there is a threat to the historic Rachol village and the minorities living there. Why did it happen only at Rachol and not other village? People of Rachol have a reason to doubt, and it is the police’s duty to allay them through proper investigation.”