Mangalore tense: Over 20 churches attacked by radicals as violence spreads

A curfew was ordered in the southern state of Karnataka after 20 churches were attacked by Hindu fanatics on Sunday, leading to widespread tension.

In what appears to be a planned series of attacks on church–goers in the state, separate groups of fanatics attacked churches and prayer halls in Udupi, Mangalore and Chickmagalur.

According to the media, nuns were injured, prayer halls over 10 were ransacked and some twelve people including four pastors have been seriously hurt. Major TV channels telecasted the seemingly seething Hindu rioters with sticks and iron rods shouting anti–Christian slogans, damaging statues, windows and furnitures. Police used batons and teargas shells to disperse protesters.

Hindu extremists levelled false charges of forcible conversions against Christian workers as the Karnataka government, ruled by the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sealed the churches.

Sajan K George of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) told media men that a mob of more than 200 people attacked the Mission Action Prayer Fellowship church recently during the worship service in Bada village of Davangere district. Besides assaulting believers and the pastor, the mob burnt the Bibles, musical instruments and furniture in front of the church.

Condemning the attacks on nuns, George added, "This is the first time in the history of India that nuns are beaten by police and this dubious distinction goes to the Karnataka state police under Mr. Yediyurappa."

Over 60 people have been detained after outraged Christian groups protested and called for a shutdown in the coastal city of Mangalore, which is the worst affected by the violence.

SP N Sathish Kumar said the police stood guard at some churches that they suspected would be targets of attacks. However, the miscreants had changed their plans in the last moment and attacked churches that did not have police security.

In Udupi district, three places of worship belonging to the New Life group were attacked while the Sunday prayers were in progress. No arrests have been made so far.

A prayer hall near the KSRTC bus station was attacked around 10.20 am during a prayer. Over 15 activists entered the hall and attacked the people and ransacked the entire place. A music system and projector were damaged. According to sources, the miscreants came in vehicles.

In Shiroor, near Baindur, the prayer hall of the same group was attacked. A vehicle was burnt and some members of the congregation, including the pastor, were attacked. A similar incident was reported from Mudur near Kollur where some materials were damaged. However, the police prevented another such attack in prayer halls of the New Life group in Kaup and Karkala. Udupi SP Pravin Pawar said he suspected Bajrang Dal activists were behind the attack.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meanwhile has reportedly spoken with state Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur and state’s BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and asked them to ensure communal harmony.

According to a 2001 census, Christians form less than 2 percent of the total population of 52.8 million in Karnataka.