Churches attacked in Karnataka

Pro-Hindutva activists vandalized a total of nine churches in coastal and central parts of Karnataka on Sunday, causing anxiety among the Christian community in the State.

The co-ordinated attacks on Churches in Mangalore and Udupi in coastal Karnataka, besides Chickmagalur in central Karnataka took place between 9 am and 10 am before the prayer congregation held on Sundays.

Police suspect activists of Bajrang Dal were behind the attacks on churches to protest against the alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

The activists had attacked churches in Mudigere, Jayapura, Balehonnur and Singatgere in Chickmagalur, besides vandalizing prayer halls in Sirur, Mudur and Udupi town in Udupi district and Kodikkal, Falnir, Milagres and Alfa Centre in Mangalore.

The attackers smashed the windowpanes and other equipment in the churches. Attempts were also made to assault the pastors and set fire to the prayer halls. A total of eight persons including two pastors have been injured in the attacks.

In Mangalore, suspected Bajrang Dal activists entered the Adoration Monastery Chapel at the Milagres and allegedly desecrated the cross and the statue of Jesus. The miscreants then began breaking everything they could lay their hands on in the church, said Ahinda leader Gracian Rodrigues.

Bajrang Dal, which has accepted the responsibility for the attacks, said they had attacked the churches as the members of the “New Life”, a Christian sect, had distributed pamphlets denigrating “Hindu Gods”.

Bajrang Dal chief Mahendra Kumar said their activists were targeting only prayer hall belonging to “New Life”. “We have not targeted any Catholic church”, he said. Kumar warned that more attacks will continue if the devotees of New Life sect did not stop ”spreading canards of Hindu religion”.
Meanwhile, the Christian community staged protests in Mangalore to condemn the attack on the churches in different parts of the State. Tension prevailed in Mangalore for some time when stone pelting took place in a residential locality. Police has imposed prohibitory orders in Mangalore and strengthened security.