The Hindu : Church attacked near Mysore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 18, 2002

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Church attacked near Mysore
By Our Staff Correspondent

Priests from different churches in the city inspecting the damage to the prayer hall of the Holy Family church in Hinkal near Mysore, which was attacked on Sunday.

MYSORE, FEB. 17. A mob stormed a church in Hinkal on the outskirts here and went on the rampage, injuring four persons, including a woman.

According to police, a group of 70, sporting saffron `bandanas' and wielding lathis, barged into the Holy Family Church after the Sunday mass at 9.30 a.m.

Confronting the parish priest, Williams, the mob shouted slogans against the alleged attempts by the church authorities to convert the locals. The priest was abused and threatened, it was alleged.

A few miscreants hurled bricks at the church and devotees as they ran helter-skelter. Several people, including women, were chased and assaulted, said Maxim, a seminarian.

``The mob came armed with blades, knives, iron rods and other lethal weapons. Several people, including women and children, suffered bruises. Four persons were sent to the local hospital.''

The mob smashed the window panes of the church and ransacked the priest's room. It started disbursing after police arrived on the scene. However, Fr. Williams, speaking to The Hindu alleged that police constables watched the attackers hurl bricks at the church.

``Only after the intervention of the local people, including the village head, Papanna, did the activists leave,'' Br. Maxim said. Denying allegations of conversions, he claimed ``the attack was not carried out by local people. It was instigated and carried out by outsiders.''

He said the church catered to 700 Christians in the vicinity. ``It is enough if we take care of the existing Christians. How can we take care of more people,'' he asked.

A complaint has been registered in the Vijaynagar police station. The Inspector of Police, Marikale Gowda, said the church authorities had identified a few persons. ``We will take action as per law,'' he said. Personnel of the Karnataka State Reserve Police have been deployed in the church.

All Christian priests in the city, including the Vicar General, Marie Joseph, visited the church and took stock of the situation. They are expected to meet again to decide on further course of action.

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