Davangere pastors seek protection
Special Correspondent| They accuse Hindu organisations of repeatedly attacking churches |
Pastors deny charge that churches were on encroached land
They have accused police of failure to give protection
Bangalore: Three Christian priests from Davangere, whose churches faced repeated attacks since mid-August by two Hindu organisations, have appealed to the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and the State police to provide protection.
This plea gains urgency in the light of alleged public threats issued by the Hindu Jagarana Vedike that it will “force the churches to be vacated” on Sunday if the district authorities did not act against what it alleges are “unauthorised” churches.
Pastors Dencil A.M., M. Immanuel and B. Rajashekhar have in their complaint given details of attacks on their churches and on people who had gathered for prayer on three occasions since August 17.
The assailants trespassed and damaged church property while accusing pastors of indulging in “forced conversions”.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator, they alleged, was also involved in the attacks.
“The police can proceed against us if there is evidence that we have been involved in forced conversions. But what gives any organisation the legal right to take law in its hands and destroy a place of worship?” Pastor Immanuel asked.
He told The Hindu that the water connection to his house was cut off by the local corporation.
The three pastors said in their complaint that there had been a “complete failure” on the part of the police and the district administration to bring the attackers to book. They said the police have, instead, slapped charges of “insulting other religions”, “criminal intimidation” and “causing public nuisance” on them.
The police have served notices to the three churches asking for documents and licences to conduct worship.
“We have given property documents and we are not encroaching on any public places,” said Pastor Rajashekhar. “But if there is need for a licence to hold a prayer, then it should equally apply to all places of worship.”
They have said in the complaint that they were “concerned by the partisan role of the police which, on the basis of their actions, clearly shows their support to these groups and persons.”
The pastors said that 15 places of worship had closed down in Davangere district because of the atmosphere of fear following the attacks.
When contacted by The Hindu, K. Amar Narayan, Deputy Commissioner of Davangere District, said: “No one can indulge in hooliganism."
“The district administration is ready to face any threats. These are empty threats,” he added.
Courtesy: http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/06/stories/2008090651180500.htm
Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008