India - Mangalore: Attack on Panir prayer centre - Accused misled police, claims church

Mangaluru: Attack on Panir prayer centre - Accused misled police, claims church

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 31: Days after the accused in the attack on St Joseph Vaz prayer center was arrested, the Panir Church authorities on Tuesday March 31 said that the accused had given false information about his motive for the attack and misled the police.
It may be recalled that stones were pelted on the prayer centre on the intervening night between February 24 and 25. The glass frame of the enclosure housing a statue of Mother Mary and Infant Jesus was damaged. On March 10, the police said that they had arrested Ananda (30) who confessed to the crime and revealed that he had done so as he was angry with the Church for over low wages.

Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, spokesperson of Panir Church Alwyn D'Souza said, "The incident took place on February 24 at St Joseph prayer centre. The glass frame of the enclosure with Mother Mary statue was damaged. On March 10, the police arrested Ukkuda, Kinya resident.

"The claim made by the accused about low wages is wrong. During 2011, a rubber plantation was set up in a vacant land belonging to the Panir Church, and to people from Nellyady and Kallugundi came to work on this plantaton. Among them was the accused Ananda.

"We used to pay the workers Rs 250 as daily wage in 2011, in 2012 it was incresed to Rs 275, and 2013-14 it was made Rs 300 and in 2015, they are being given Rs 350. These wages are fixed, and along with that, we also provide meals, snacks and tea," he said.

"The accused claimed that he had attacked the prayer centre because he was paid less. But he has given false information to the police and misled them. There is no connection between the attack and the work he did for the church," he said.

When reporters asked what could be the motive behind it, Alwyn D'Souza said, "The accused has been released on bail, but he hails from a very poor family which cannot afford bail amount. Some organizations with vested interests have bailed him out, otherwise how can he come out?

"It was the time of Samajotsava and similar incidents of stone pelting took place in Ullal and Thokkottu areas at around the same time," he pointed out, without directly naming anyone.

Philip D'Souza and Michael Lobo were present.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=308185