from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Dec 22: Security threat looms large over Christmas celebrations with Goa police advising Churches in the state to take adequate precautions during the midnight Masses on December 24 night.
 
As a quick response to the police call, Panaji capital city’s four-century Immaculate Conception Church, has decided to hold its mid night mass inside the church in lieu of  the earlier practice of holding it in open space in front of the church.
 
“As against the announcement made earlier that the Mass would be held on the (church) steps, now the same will be held inside the church, as a security measure,” Fr Antimo Gomes, parish priest, Immaculate Conception Church, said.

Fr Gomes said that the decision to hold it in church was taken “in view of the international and national terrorist activities.”
 
“In order to avert any possible untoward incidents, metallic detectors would be placed at the entry points and also recommended to the parishioners and others who will be participating in the midnight Mass to avoid bringing bags or similar objects, as they would not be allowed to take them along to the Church,” stated Fr Gomes, heading this Goa’s one of the important church which was constructed as a chapel in the year 1543 and later given church status in the year 1600. The church with 7,000 parishioners is tucked in the heart of Panaji city.

"In past, we never had any such security measures but now we are forced to take them,” he said adding that Christmas celebrations would not be affected due to these precautions.

The Goa police, on the other hand, played down the threat saying that there is no specific threat but whatever is done are “standard measures.” “Terrorism is a world phenomenon… This year terrorist activities have increased in our neighbouring states like Maharashtra. Terrorists have capabilities to operate trans-nation and trans-state and hence we are taking all the steps,” director general of police, B S Brarr, told reporters at police headquarters on Friday, December 22 evening.

He reiterated that Goa has no specific threat. “We will be releasing advertisements in the run-up to the new year to alert all the citizens. This is being done basically to make people vigilant,” Brarr said.