Christians condemn attack on 100 yr old church in Maharashtra

A 100-year-old church in Saoner, Maharashtra was attacked by dozens of Hindu extremists on Sunday, eliciting fear among the faithful who have accused the government and police for failing to protect the community.

The miscreants, allegedly from VHP and Bajrang Dal, according to the police, had attacked the Douglas Memorial Church on allegations of forceful conversions.

Chanting "Jai Shree Ram, Jai Bajrang'', the extremists numbering over 25, armed with sharp weapons, injured three women worshippers and destroyed church furniture and musical instruments. Christian literatures and Bibles were also torn.

Police said ten minutes before the attack the miscreants had placed a complaint against the church for which the authorities promised to investigate. The attack was not spontaneous and was well planned, police contended.

Reverend Mark Sakharperkar of the church, which is affiliated to the United Church of Northern India, denied allegations of forced conversions and said the church is being attacked for the first time and on 'erroneous' reasons.

"It was a merciless attack. I was shocked to see them barge into the church with sticks and weapons during the worship. They hurled a sharp trident at me. Some of them were known faces. One Pandit Bharadwaj even brandished a pistol to intimidate me," a national daily quoted Sarkaharpekar, as saying.

The priest identified one of the attackers as Sonu Bariya who used to attend the Sunday mass with his mother on several occasions. They had however discontinued their visits, he added.

The incident apart from eliciting fear has also sparked an outrage among the Christian community who are in no mood to remain silent, paving way for another brutal Kandhamal.

Mumbai-based Abraham Mathai, vice-chairman of the state minority cell, accused the police for the incident and said police have only arrested one person even after knowing the identity of the attackers.

Urging people to follow the teachings of love and peace as preached by Mahaveera, Buddha and Jesus, Bishop Paul Dupare of Church of North India (CNI) said, "People from all communities should live in peace and harmony. All religions must be respected."

Nelson Francis, executive member, Catholic Association of Nagpur, condemned the incident and said it was very unfortunate.

Meanwhile, the VHP and Bajrang Dal are both denying any involvement in the incident. Subodh Acharya, city president of Bajrang Dal said its members were not behind the attack. He says it might have been the reaction of several Hindus in the area who are against the church luring people.

A case has been registered under rioting, trespassing and defiling place of worship. Police have begun investigating the incident.

The church in India has numerous times clarified that it is against forced conversions, which is also against the tenets of Christianity. Despite this, missionaries have been brutally attacked and arrested on fabricated charges. Sometimes, even the police have been reluctant to judiciously act on such cases.

Even Kandhamal which witnessed one of India's largest violence against Christians, fell victim to claims of forced conversions which led to the instigating of barbarous attacks, including the burning of Christians. 50,000 had to flee to forests.

The church claims that places like Kandhamal where tribal people are being ignored, missionaries have been setting schools and hospitals for their well being. The popularity Christians are gaining through this is however opposed by Hindu extremist groups who indulge in violence to suppress and thwart the efforts of the church, they assert.

In several states there also exist anti-conversion laws which church says is misused to suit the Hindu aggression.