MANGALORE: Justine Vas and Joel Vas, who have been reportedly subject to atrocities by the Mangalore Rural SI Prakash, have alleged that “Neermarga Church Parish Priest Charles Menezes had paid Rs 50,000 to the SI Prakash to subject them to atrocities. Addressing a press meet held in the city on July 29, Thursday under the leadership of the National Council of Human Rights Organizations, they said “The church parish priest had been transferred within 4 years of his appointment following us revealing his illicit affair with a woman of Neermarga. In order to avenge us for this, he had paid Rs 50,000 to the SI through constable David. The instigation of a MESCOM employee named Prakash Pereira is responsible for this.â€
“Prakash Pereira and we had a land dispute since 2003. He was the ward gurkar of the church and nurtured vengeance against us for not paying donations to the church and for not attending some prayer meetings. Meanwhile, when our window panes were broken by some local youngsters while playing volleyball, we had lodged a police complaint and Konappa Reddy who was then in rural station had summoned the youth and warned them,†Justine Vas informed
Joel Vas said “A local youth named Joyson and myself had a clash during cricket following which we suffered scratches. Pereira who intervened in this saw to it that a complaint was lodged. A HC named Jayanth who summoned us to the station sent us back after issuing a warning. Twenty days later SI Prakash who summoned me to the station accused me of breaking Joyson’s hands and legs. The case was settled after we paid Rs 3,200 towards his medical expenses.â€
Joel said “Meanwhile Pereira who was transferred from Bantwal wanted to avenge us and after stoning the windows of the house of a poor family of Lilly D’Souza near his house, complained against us with the police. But, then we evaded arrest and secured bail. Our house was stoned on Shivarati day and an attempt was made to prove that it has been done by some local Hindus. But we complained against Pereira. Police had lodged cases against both sides. However, locals used to heed to Pereira and even came forward to provide witness to his case as he was the gurkar.†Joel said.
“Meanwhile, when we complained to the Bishop alleging the hands of parish priest Charles Menezes in the case of stoning our house, he was transferred on May 31 and the infuriated parish priest lodged a false complaint on June 1 that I was threatening him over phone. Next day the police arrested me and my father and made us sit in our underwear. Gangadhar Shetty who was on way to the station to get us released, was taken in a car by David and assaulted throughout the way when his finger was broken. The same night SI Prakash committed atrocities on us and secured a false statement on us,†they explained.
The two also alleged that the persons who attacked Justine Vas on July 23 were still moving around royally and the police have still not arrested them and also the persons who threatened Gangadhar Shetty. They also said that they would go in for a legal recourse if justice was not delivered to them.
Saduddin Saali, District President of NCHRO said a complaint has already been lodged with the Mangalore Police Commissioner on the threats issued to Gangadhar Shetty, a prime witness to this case of police atrocity and that he had been placed under illegal detention to force him to give witness against the case.
PB D’Sa, District President of PUCL, Nirmal Kumar, Anand, and Kabeer were also present at the press meet.
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