Mangaluru, March 31: In relation to the attack on St Joseph Vaz Shrine at Panir, the culprit was recently arrested. The Panir church authorities have said that the accused had misled the cops by giving false information about his intension behind the attack.
Stones were pelted at St Joseph Vaz prayer centre on the night of February 24th. In the incident, glass frame of the enclosure housing a statue of Mother Mary and Infant Jesus was damaged.
On March 10th, cops had arrested Ananda (30), who said the act was done in rage as he was paid low wages by the church.
Representative of Panir Church, Alwyn D’Souza addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, said, on the night of February 24th this incident had taken place at St Joseph prayer centre. The glass frame of the enclosure with Mother Mary statue was damaged. On March 10th, Ukkuda, resident of Kinya was arrested by the cops.
He said, the claim of the accused on low wages is wrong. During 2011, a rubber plantation was done in a vacant land belonging to the Panir Church, and people from Nellyady and Kallugundi had arrived to work on this plantation. Accused Ananda was among them.
In 2011, the workers were paid Rs 250 as daily wage.
In 2012, it was increased to Rs 275, and 2013-14 it was made Rs 300 and in 2015, they are being paid Rs 350. These wages are fixed, and along with it, meals, snacks and tea, are also provided to them, he said.
The accused claimed that as he was paid less, he had attacked the prayer centre. But he has given false information to the police and misled them. There is no relation between the attack and the work he did for the church, Alwyn D’Souza said.
During the press meet, Michael Lobo and Philip D’Souza were present.
