AGENCIES|MARGAO

A statue in the compound of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception High School at Avedem, Paroda, was vandalized, allegedly by a resident of Xelvona late Sunday evening.

The accused entered the compound around 8.30pm and first damaged three glass windows of Our Lady of Livrament chapel inside the school compound, the notice board, an electrical switchboard and the statue of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception encased in a wooden frame.

Church parish priest Fr Agnelo Rodrigues, who is also the manager of the diocesan-run school, lodged a complaint later in the night. South Goa SP Arvind Gawas arrived at the spot to monitor the situation. After reviewing CCTV footage, the police arrested Praveen Dessai, 34, around 1.30am on Monday from his Xelvona residence.

Police said the suspect is mentally unstable and showed his medical card issued by the Institute of Psychiatry and Human 
Behaviour (IPHB) in 2009. 

When Dessai was taken to the institute on Monday for tests, the IPHB told the police to admit the patient for observation and treatment after obtaining magisterial order. Later, the Quepem court awarded him a 12-day judicial remand.