Goa police expand search for relics row accused, stir subsides | India News – Times of India

PANAJI: Protests in Goa ignited by former RSS state chief Subhash Velingkar‘s controversial remarks about St Francis Xavier eased Sunday as police expanded their search across the state and neighbouring Maharashtra to catch the accused, who has remained untraceable since Friday.
Velingkar allegedly called for a “DNA test” of the relics of St Francis Xavier, revered as the patron saint of Goa and affectionately known as Goencho Saib.North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal said Velingkar ignored a second police notice issued Sunday to join the probe. Velingkar had applied for anticipatory bail Saturday, with the matter expected to be heard Monday.
The FIR against Velingkar was filed Friday by Velim MLA Cruz Silva of AAP, alleging Velingkar’s speech at a Bicholim event on Oct 1 insulted St Francis Xavier and hurt religious sentiments. Complaints against Velingkar continued to be filed at police stations in Goa.
Protesters demanded Velingkar be externed from Goa until after the decennial exposition of St Francis Xavier, which will be held from Nov to Jan next year. Born in Spain in 1506, the Christian missionary arrived in Goa in 1542 and travelled extensively across India and Southeast Asia until his death in 1552. His remarkably preserved body is enshrined at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.
A memorandum from Old Goa residents called for Velingkar to be barred from entering the area until the Exposition concludes in Jan. Authorities have yet to respond to the memorandum’s demands as tensions remain, with the police investigation continuing.
CM Pramod Sawant has assured that action will be taken against Velingkar and urged the public to maintain peace, emphasising that “no one should attempt to create communal tension”. Church leaders called on the faithful to remain peaceful and not allow religious harmony to be disrupted. Fr Henry Falcao, convener of the Exposition committee, said: “Our sentiments are hurt, but we must not get agitated.”
Peaceful protests were seen Sunday in Old Goa, with priests, nuns, and other community members participating. Protest organisers, including Glen Cabral, suggested that Velingkar’s remarks were an attempt to divert attention from real estate projects in the state.
“This is an attempt to divide us because if we are united against all these projects, govt will never be successful. We are Goans first. Let us live together, Hindus-Christians-Muslims. It is OK to protest, but keep it peaceful and don’t block the roads,” Cabral said. People from different religious backgrounds gathered at Santa Cruz after Sunday Mass to file a police complaint against Velingkar, demanding his arrest while urging everyone to maintain focus on Goa’s larger interests.