Temple priest accused of molestation

PANAJI: Two girls, both of Goan origin and residing in the US, have accused a priest from the Shree Manguesh Devasthan, Mangueshi, of allegedly molesting them on the temple premises last month.
Both the girls have made written complaints to the temple committee, stating that in two separate incidents, on June 14 and 22, the temple priest ‘pulled me towards him...and managed to kiss me on my cheek’.
The temple committee has replied to both the girls. Its secretary has stated in the replies that ‘‘the nature of the allegations are such that it restricts the scope of further enquiry by the managing committee’. “The committee therefore has come to conclusion to request you to approach the appropriate authority to redress your grievances.” The secretary has also stated that the committee could not lay its hands on any ‘dependable evidence to establish a prima facie case’.
The complaints and the reply are being widely circulated on social media.
One girl has stated in her complaint that on June 14, while she was in temple with her parents for performing ‘abhishek’, and she and her mother were moving toward the gabhara to start the ‘Pradakshina’, the priest stopped them and asked the mother to go in first.
“Priest said my blessings are with you. I touched his feet, before I could stand up, he grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me toward him.... And before I could even understand what he was trying to do he managed to kiss me on my cheek. I was dumbstruck,” she has stated in the complaint to the temple committee.
The other girl has said the priest misbehaved with her June 22 when she accompanied her parents to the temple to perform ‘abhishek’. She too has accused the priest of hugging and kissing her on her cheek. SP (South) Arvind Gawas said, “Once we receive complaints from the girls we will take immediate action.”