PANAJI, India (UCAN) -- The Church in Goa state has reacted cautiously to the acquittal of two suspects in the murder of a Catholic priest in the western Indian state two years ago.

On Nov. 17, the South Goa Sessions Court acquitted Manish Dubey, 20, and Amit Shukla, 21, of the March 18, 2006, murder of Father Eusebio Ferrao, saying it found discrepancies in the prosecution charges.

Police arrested the two Hindu youths after the 61-year-old priest was found in his bedroom with 27 stab wounds. A forensic report later said the wounds were inflicted after the priest had been smothered and strangled.

The murder took place at the peak of church robberies and vandalism in Goa. Ancient statues were stolen and passed to antique dealers. In some cases altars and even tabernacles were desecrated.

Nothing was found amiss at the murder scene, however, so many suspected the involvement of sectarian groups in the crime.

Father Ferrao was parish priest of St. Francis Xavier Church in Macasana, 55 kilometers south of Panaji, the Goa capital. Panaji lies 1,910 kilometers southwest of New Delhi.

Father Francis Caldeira, spokesperson for Goa and Daman archdiocese, remained noncommittal when asked for his reaction to the court verdict. "The law has taken its course," he told UCA News, declining further comment.

However, fellow priests interviewed reacted strongly against the acquittal.

"Justice is not done, because everybody knows the duo had committed the crime," remarked Father Lauzerio Godinho, current pastor in Macasana.

Father Cristovao Caldeira, pastor of the Church of St. Lawrence the Martyr in Agassaim, closer to the state capital, said he wished the judge had "followed her conscience and maintained professional integrity."

Father James Torres de Silva, a school manager, also feels the slain priest should have received justice. "Nobody can take life," he said, before adding that he was too overwhelmed by the circumstances to give appropriate comments.

In her verdict, Judge Bimba K. Thaly ruled the prosecution had failed to prove the accused had committed the crime. She said that since the prosecution's case "appears doubtful, the benefit of doubt deserves to be given to the accused."

Her judgment also highlighted discrepancies in the police investigations, such as inconsistency in dates and places.

Amay Prabhudessai, who defended the accused, expressed satisfaction that his clients received justice. The government had provided the lawyer to the accused, who are poor laborers from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

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