Move to rename ‘Hat Katro Khamba’ sparks demand to reveal inquisition history
Panaji, Goa – A person claiming to be a historian, Del Menezes, submitted a representation on 30 March 2026 to the Director of the Archives and Archaeology Department, proposing that ‘Hat Katro Khamba’ be renamed as ‘Pelourinho Novo’. In response, the patriotic organisation Hindu Raksha Maha Aghadi has strongly opposed the proposal. It has also made several important demands to the Goa Government to ensure that the history of the Inquisition is made known to the general public.
Hindu Raksha Maha Aghadi stated in its representation that the Portuguese and the Church carried out inhumane atrocities against Hindus for 251 years through the so-called Holy Inquisition to strengthen their rule in Goa. The ‘Hat Katro Khamba’ monument in Old Goa is the only remaining witness of those atrocities. The demand to remove it appears to be an attempt to erase all evidence of the oppression carried out by the Portuguese.
The organisation also stated that some groups in Goa are attempting to portray Portuguese rule as benevolent by publishing books and trying to alter history.
During Portuguese rule, Hindus and newly converted Christians were subjected to severe torture in the name of religion. The ‘Palace of Inquisition’ (also known as ‘Vhadle Ghar’) located in the church complex in Old Goa reportedly had around 200 torture chambers. Prisoners were subjected to inhumane treatment, and those sentenced to death were paraded through the area in a procession known as ‘Auto da Fe’ before being burned.
It has also been mentioned that a so-called ‘Well of Bones’ exists beneath the garden area in front of the Se Cathedral church in Old Goa, where the remains of those killed during the Inquisition were buried. When the Archaeology Department attempted excavation at this site, objections from the Church led the then government to halt the process.
The entire church complex in Old Goa is currently under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and several documents and reference materials related to these historical sites are available.
Key demands by Hindu Raksha Maha Aghadi
- The ‘Hat Katro Khamba’ should be preserved in a secure and visible location within the Inquisition area (Old Goa), as it is an important historical witness.
- A grand memorial should be constructed at the site of the ‘Palace of Inquisition’ in memory of the victims.
- The route of the infamous ‘Auto da Fe’ procession should be identified and marked with informative signboards.
- Excavation should be carried out at the site of the alleged ‘Well of Bones’ near Se Cathedral, and the area should be protected with proper arrangements and a permanent information board.