Christian man offers cross necklace to Hindu murti, arrested

Panaji: A Christian man was arrested after he offered a necklace with Christian religious symbol cross to statue of a Hindu deity in South Goa.

The man, identified as Lucas Carvalho, yesterday offered the neckless with cross to the deity at a temple in Sanguem village, about 80 kms from here, police said today.

“Some of the devotees complained about necklace with cross being offered to the deity,” police Inspector Uttam Raut Dessai said.

“Local youth Lucas Carvalho was arrested yesterday on suspicion. He has confessed to the act and told us that he did it to celebrate Portugal’s victory in Euro 2016 final,” he said.

Dessai said that the man’s act did not incite any communal discord as he was immediately arrested.

“We are questioning him further. We are also examining if he had any intention to incite communal sentiments through his act,” the police officer added.

With inputs from agency