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Three prayer halls sealed

Davangere: Three Christian prayer halls in K.T.J. Nagar police station limits which have been in the eye of a storm because of attacks on them by Hindu outfits since August 17 were sealed by the Davangere City Corporation on Sunday.

The corporation in its notice said that they were “unauthorised churches” under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, Section 321(1) and (2). No prayer was held in these places because they were locked and sealed.

The pastors of all the three churches, however, claimed that they had all documents and the action was “unfair” and that they would take legal recourse. They said that all people associated with the Christian community were being targeted and cases filed against them.

Notices had been served under Section 107 (of creating public nuisance) against 20 people on Sunday who had protested against the continued attacks on Christian prayer halls, said Pastor Rajashekhar.

Deputy Commissioner K. Amar Narayan said that the pastors had been asked to produce all relevant documents that authorises them to conduct prayers and the places were sealed as they had “failed” to produce documents. The pastors, however, said that they had time till Monday to produce them and the authorities had no right to seal the places or prevent prayers till then.

Courtesy: http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090854780400.htm

Dated:  Wednesday, September 10, 2008