Panaji, Aug 4 - With a 17th century church being vandalised in Goa, Speaker Pratapsing Rane Tuesday said increasing instances of religious structures being desecrated reflect a conscious effort by some forces to foment communal tension.

Rane was speaking during zero hour when the issue of the church at Cabo de Rama in South Goa being vandalised on Monday was raised in the assembly.

'It appears to be a concerted effort. It has never happened in Goa before. It is aimed at creating communal problems here,' said Rane, who was chief minister for nearly two decades.

The issue of the desecrated chapel was raised by opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, who accused police of treating the desecration issue lightly.

'The attitude of the police is not right.