Udupi Bishop calls Parish Council Meeting, Parishioners call off Protest
Udupi: The people of Shirva withdrew their protest following an assurance by the Bishop of Udupi to convene the parish council meeting on Sunday, November 3 to discuss the death of Fr Mahesh D’Souza.
The parishioners of Shirva and surrounding areas had launched a flash protest in front of the parish priest’s office in Shirva demanding to reveal the investigation report of the suicide case of Fr Mahesh D’Souza. The protesters demanded Bishop Gerald Lobo to come to the spot immediately and give a statement about developments of the case.
The Kaup Circle inspector Mahesh Prasad arrived at the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. The angry protesters shouted slogans against the parish priest and the Bishop. Later Mahesh Prasad held a meeting with the parish priest and came to the protest spot along with the parish priest.
Parish Priest Fr Denis D’Sa addressing the parishioners said, “I am also pained due to the sudden death of Fr Mahesh D’Souza. We are also waiting for the police enquiry report of Fr Mahesh’s death case. The police department is investigating the case and we are not authorised person’s to reveal the investigation report. Only the police can provide the details after the enquiry is completed. On behalf of the parish council the assistant parish priest who had filed the complaint of Fr Mahesh’s suicide has given a statement to the police. The police have also taken statements from many other persons in regard to this case. I can understand the feelings of the parishioners about the death of Fr Mahesh. Since the Bishop has gone for a programme at the Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur he is not able to come here right now. He has informed me to call the parish council meeting on Sunday after the mass at Shirva,” he said.
The protesters demanded to call all the parish members meeting but CPI Mahesh Prasad did not agree to the protesters demand. He then requested the protesters to call off the protest for a day. After the request from the Police department the protesters withdrew their protest.
