Mangaluru: Miscreants vandalize historical Panir church

Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 25 Feb 2015: The situation at Our Lady of Mercy church, Panir near here has been vandalized by miscreants on Tuesday February 24 night.
 
The agitated people gathered in the church premises and are demanding the arrest of culprits. Ullal police registered a case in this regard.
 
The local MLA and state health and family welfare minister U T Khader visited the church and offered assurances to arrest the miscreants.  He also appealed to remain calm.
 
The city police commissioner Murugan also visited the church and further monitoring the situation.  Ullal police sub-inspector Bharati is camping at the spot and contain the situation. 

 
One of the parishioners who was on his work reported the incident on Wednesday February 24 about 8.00am. As the news spread nearly 1,000 Catholics gathered at the premises at about 9.00am. The police had made arrangements to maintain law and order at the location.  
 
The police sources informed that cigarette buds and gutka sachets were found on the floor along with liquor bottles at the church premises.

 

 

Panir church is the oldest in the erstwhile South Kanara district, wherein Blessed Joseph Vaz, Goan missionary served for a few years. He was beatified by Pope Francis recently. The faithful seek his divine graces because of his miraculous powers.
 
Similar incident was reported 6 months ago, when one of the offering boxes placed at the church was stolen. CCTV was installed after the incident.  Since the CCTV cameras did not have night vision, no clues of miscreants were found.

 
Panir parish council vice president Franklin D’Souza urged the arrest of the miscreants. ‘We demand the arrest of miscreants as it has hurt the religious sentiments of the people. We do not blame anyone in this regard but urge for the arrest of the miscreants. The police have promised to arrest the miscreants at the earliest,’ said D’Souza.