Bajrang Dal convener arrested for church attacks

Karnataka convener of Bajrang Dal, Mahendra Kumar, was arrested by the police in connection with the spate of attacks on churches and prayer halls in the state.

On September 15, a group of Hindu fanatics attacked churches in parts of Mangalore, Udupi and Chickmaglur districts. Following the incident, Bajrang Dal publicly owned responsibility for instigating the violence.

"Mahendra Kumar has been arrested tonight," Western Range Deputy Inspector General of Police A M Prasad said.

Reacting to opposition parties' demand for his detention, Kumar said he was “ready for arrest or any sacrifice in defence of Hindu religion."

"There is no basis for my arrest. We are not involved in the attacks but we are always with the people who work to defend attacks on Hindu religion," Kumar told IANS.

"My arrest will be against all democratic principles. But I am ready for it and any sacrifice in defence of Hindu religion. Our organisation will continue to work for the cause of our religion," he maintained.

When asked if his organisation has any data on the number of people converting to Christianity, Kumar said: "In the last eight years more than 4,000 families have been converted in the state.

"There are more than 60 cases registered with the police in Karnataka in this regard but no action has been taken," he said.

With attacks on churches continuing unabated, the Centre had issued a strong advisory, asking the BJP government in the state to take effective steps to check the violence, which it said was a 'breach' of the Constitution.

The Home Ministry issued a warning under Article 355 that it would be compelled to take action against the state governments if violence did not cease.

"Option of imposing Article 356 (President's rule) will arise only when a governor sends a report that the law and order situation is alarming and the governance cannot be carried out in accordance with the Constitution," said an official.

Leaders of various Christian organizations meanwhile met with state home minister Dr V S Acharya and chief minister B S Yeddyurappa at the Vidhana Soudha in connection with the persecution of Christians in the state.

Justice M F Saldanha, former Karnataka High Court judge, urged the government to act more responsibly and wanted the use of the excuse of conversion to stop immediately. He asked the home minister to act impartially to restore confidence in the government, which the minorities have lost after the recent developments.

According to Christian sources, three more churches in Bantwal, Manchanhalli and Dharwad was attacked following the central government's advisory to invoke article 355 of the constitution. The BJP and Bajrang Dal have strongly reacted to the Centre's decision.