Karnataka Human Rights Commission demands report on church attack

The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance over the September 10 attack on a Church in Karnataka, and has asked the state police to submit a report of its investigation within one month.

Justice S R Nayak, the chairperson the Commission took a suo motu case and demanded the Home department and Director General and Inspector General of Police to present the details of the inquiry over the attack at St. Francis De Sales Church near Hebbagodi.

Additionally, the Commission has also demanded a report of the investigation of last year's attacks on religious places. It wanted the government to take action against perpetrators of violence and also inform the measures it has taken to promote peace and harmony among religious communities.

St. Francis De Sales Church was attacked by a group of 15-20 radicals who broke open the Church and damaged the window panes and also the statues of Jesus and Mary.

Justice Nayak said he feels it was a "planned attack". The state government has ordered a Corps of Detective (CoD) probe into the attack.

A delegation of Catholic leaders led by Bangalore Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras has met governor H R Bharadwaj and informed him of the situation and submitted a memorandum to home minister V S Acharya.

The opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) have lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for failing to prevent attack on the church. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has called the attack an `unfortunate' incident.