Report by Sanjay Borkar
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SP)

Panaji, Jul 1: A newly formed committee titled 'All Goa Temple Safeguard Committee' formed for overseeing the safety of the temples all over the state, has called for Quepem bandh today. Quepem is located about 19 kms away from Margao.

Hindu organisations have been pressing with their demands for the early arrest of culprits who vandalized Sri Someshwar temple in Quepem besides desecrating the idol of the temple deity. They allege, that incidents like these have been on the rise in the state of late, but the police have failed in nabbing any of the miscreants involved, so far.

Following the latest incident of damaging the idols at Shirvai-Quepem, activists from Sanguem, Sanvordem and Quepem came together and formed the said committee, with the intention of protecting temples against indiscriminate acts of sacrilege. At a meeting held at Ponda on Sunday, June 29 in association with Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, the All Goa Temple Safeguard Committee took the unanimous decision of organising this bandh.

Prof Subash Velingkar of Vishwa Hindu Parishat, Rajendra Velingkar of Dharmjagran Samiti, former MLA Prakash Velip, north Goa Bajrangdal chief Vinayak Chari, Goa Hindu Janjagruti Samiti convener Jayesh Tali, presidents of various temples in Goa and members of around 80 Hindu organisations took part in the meeting, held at the Vishwa Hindu parishat Hall at Ponda.