The gruesome murder of the Parish Priest of St Francis
Xavier Church Macasana Salcete Goa about 18 kms from
Margao has sent confusing signals, as both the
villagers and police are still unclear of the motive
of the crime.
According to information collated by this writer in
situ, this evening at Macazana church and at his
native place in Chinchinim Salcete the alleged two men
suspected are believed to be clsoe acquantainces of
the priest Fr Eusebio Ferrao n/o Ferrao wado
(Mazilwado) Deussua Chinchinim Salcete Goa
It is believed that the two persons hailing from Udipi
(Uttar Kannada)? or Uttar Pradesh (UP) ? still
uncertain came around 2.30 p.m. on 17th March. 2006
Friday to the residence of the priest adjoining the
Church and informed the cook that they would be
joining the priest for dinner and stay.
The present cook incidentally a temporary
replacement since the last seven days or so for the
earlier cook one Mr Sunil? who is alleged to have
proceeded to his native place in Udipi or Karwar to
answer some exams.
Fr Eusebio is stated to have made all arrangements for
the dinner for his "guests" with purchases of eggs at
a local shop. The alleged assailants came dined and
were reported to have had animated discusssion well
until late night. Later the cook is reported to have
gone to sleep and the priest too went into his room
while the "guests" slept in the adjoining room as per
the bedding seen by the villagers.
Early this morning the Church bells did not toll at
the appointed time and villagers who procceed for the
first mass at 0630 were surprised to see the Church
closed. They then heard some thumping of the door and
are believed to have broken the window and found the
cook locked in his room, and later the priest gagged
with a pillow on his face and tongue curled up.
Except for some slight mark on his side rib it appears
that he was suffocated to death, in the early hours of
dusk. No other injury was reported either of body
being mutialated or the tongue cut as per rumours
doing the rounds. The police dog sniffed the trail of
the alleged assailants upto the nearest bus stop, and
then lost track. It is not clear whether the
assailants departed by the early 0600 hrs bus but some
villagers are reported to have heard the screeching of
a vehicle in the early hours of dusk.
The police have taken the cook for questioning and
also summoned the other who had proceeded for exams.
The cook doubles up as a sacristian and cook for the
lone Parish priest.
There is a prayer house constructed at the entrance of
the priests residence which was intact. The
foundation stone for the same was laid by late Fr
Eusebio in 2004 and inuagurated in April 2005.
The motive seems uncertain as all his belongings were
intact. Robbery therefore was not the motive.
The police have carried out finger print imaging and
other investigations under Maina Curtorim Police
Station under PI Harish Madkaikar according to the
police on duty. But since the villagers also broke
into the premises before the police turned up some
vital prints may have been lost.
The prayer room has since been open for prayers but
all other parts have been declared out of bound. The
priests residence is on the top floor so is the dining
room cooks room and toilet and bathroom
According to some gossip doing the rounds it was
reported that an article on page 3 of Vavrradeancho
IXTT dated 18 March, 2006 under the caption
"Sanvordem Ghoddlem Purai Goem Hal"lam" could have
been the cause of the murder. But a reading of this
article indicates more of several questions which
remain unanswered of the Sanvordem incident> But a
small drawing showing a damaged pharmacy Sanvordem a
General Store with a by line "Are, fator kabar zait
aileat. Anik pick-up dhadd" does not show anything
vindictive or provocative on a cursory reading in
Konkani Roman script.
It is not confirmed as to which community the
assailants belong but they are believed to have spoken
in Hindi and English.
A visit to the residence of late Fr Eusebio at
Mazilwaddo Chinchinim witnessed a small number of
locals at his residence at 1930 hrs. In the well
mosaicc tiled house of late Fr Eusebio was his brother
Jacob and his wife,. A retired seamen he stated that
his brother late Eusebio 61 years visited him last
Friday and infact he had visited Fr Eusebio at
Macazana on 15th. There was never any doubt in their
minds of the impending dastardly in human attack.
The funeral is slated for the 21st of March, 2006 when
the mortal remains of Fr Eusebio will be brought from
the Goa Medical College Bambolim morgue where it is
lying after post partum investigations to his
residence. From there (as per the professed wishes of
Fr Eusebio during his lifetime to have the funeral
services at the Dessua Chapel) he will be taken to
his St Anthony's Chapel Deussua and then for the
requiem High Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Hope at
Chinchinim owing to the expected crowd for the funeral
services at 3-00 p.m.
Incidentally the funeral services cannot be held on
20th as the Archbishop of Goa & Daman His Grace Filipe
Neri Ferrao (not related to late Fr Eusebio Ferrao )
and ex Archbishop Dr Raul N Gonsalves ahve prior
appointments according to the family.
Fr Eusebio had served at Divar Carambolim Agacaim
Chinchinim and now Macazana and was energetic and
robust round smiling face priest who was loved by all.
Though the Archbishop rushed to the scene so also
other politicians Mr Churchill Alemao MP Mr Francisco
Sardinha Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly the
Paco Patriacal could not give any details to stiffle
the rumours doing the round. Fr Loila Pereria was
reported to be out of station.
Therefore there does not appear to be any
incriminating evidence prima facie to suggest a
communal retaliation as believed owing to the various
events of church robberies the Curchorem riots or the
Comba cross vandalisation.
Now doubt late Fr Eusebio wrote and spoke out on most
social issues affecting Goa and Goans but thus far
there seems no provocation in his exterior conduct to
merit such a dastardly decietful attack.
The questions now needing answer?
What was the relation of the assailants with the
priest
What led to the arrangement for dinner and overstay of
the duo?
Were the two labourers who attended to the
construction works of the new Prayer House?
Were they from UP or Udipi?
Were they related to the cooks
Was the replacement of the cook a pretext for this
impending gruesome event?
Unfortunately the laity is confused because the
Archbishops spokesmen is unavailable to disseminate
the facts or give a factual reporting to anxious
citizens.
With the Goa Legislative Assembly going in session
from 20th March 2006 to 24th March 2006 this issue is
bound to cause a turmoil in the House.
from the Macazana / Deussua Chinchinim end]
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
BORDA MARGAO GOA
9822158584
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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