'Allegations of xians blocking roads, damaging property far from truth'

Answering to the queries of Police Department’s counsel Advocate M Narayana Reddy at a witness cross examination in connection with the Church attack incidents here on Thursday, D’Souza said that the allegations of Christians blocking roads, pelting stones at public vehicles and damaging properties were far from truth.

“We did not store cement interlocks, sticks, reapers, stones and soda bottles inside the church premises,” he asserted and denied the allegations of Christians pelting stones at Mangalore MLA U T Khader.

Countering counsel’s allegations of Christians damaging the walkie-talkie of police head constable Devi Shetty and breaking the rifle belonging to constable Praveen, D’Souza said that the allegations were baseless. He also denied allegations of Christians blocking Mangalore - Kasaragod National Highway at Thokkottu on September 15.

He said that youths wearing saffron dress were shouting “Bajrangdalakke Jai, mathanthara maaduva Christiannrige Dhikkara” near Vitobha Bhajana Mandir in front of the Church. However, we could not report the incident to the police due to lack of time, he added.

Replying to government counsel Advocate Prasanna Deshpande’s query, D’Souza said that the District Administration had taken appropriate action after the occurrence of untoward incidents.

Further, during cross examination by Bajrangdal’s counsel Advocate Jagadish Shenava, D’Souza said that he did not file affidavit blaming Bajrangdal under religious leaders’ pressure.

D’Souza said that there were no special celebrations at the Church on September 15. However, Christians were not gathering at the Church premises on that day to take revenge in connection with the untoward incidents that took place on September 14, he asserted.

CD exhibited

A CD containing videograph of incidents occurred in front of the St Sebastian Church was exhibited in the court room. D’Souza stated that the CD was given to him by Church’s Chief Priest Fr Thomas D’Souza. Further, D’Souza said that he did not know the source from where the CD was obtained. A demand to confirm the authenticity of the CD was put forward by the counsels on the occasion.

Advocates B Ibrahim, M P Noronha and Lancelot M D’Souza appeared for the witness.