Christian convent attacked in Mysore by Sangh Parivar activists

Suspected Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists reportedly assaulted the staff of a Christian educational institution in Mysore near here and disfigured the statue of Infant Jesus kept in the school premises.

According to a complaint lodged with the police, a group of 50 people, including four of them, who had identified themselves as VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, entered Avila Convent in Mysore during lunch hour and began abusing the headmistress in a foul language for “promoting the sale of Christian literature”.

In he complaint to the police, headmistress Sister Francina said the activists had assaulted the peon of the school, who came to her rescue on seeing the activists rush towards her menacingly. A few other teachers, who were present on the occasion, were also pushed around, she said.

The activists allegedly smashed the glass casket in which a statue of Infant Jesus had been kept. The miscreants, the headmistress alleged, also disfigured the statue of Infant Jesus.

A few parents, who had brought lunch to their children studying the school, joined the school staff in denying the allegation levelled by the activists.

Later, hundreds of children studying in the school staged a protest condemning the attack on their institution. Bishop of Mysore Thomas Antony Vazhapilly led the protest along with Vicar General J B Xavier. Former Ministers Rani Satish, T John and K J George, who were campaigning for Congress candidate Siddaramaiah in the adjoining Chamundeshwari assembly constituency, arrived at the school and joined the protest.

Mysore City Police Commissioner Pravin Sood told reporters that the police had arrested one person in connection with the attack on the school and sent him to judicial custody. “We will be making more arrests”, he said.