Attack on Mangalore church condemned

A Catholic church in Mangalore was Monday attacked by a group of unidentified people in a presumed attempt to trigger communal conflict.

The miscreants entered the Holy Hill Church and damaged the altar, flower plots and other belongings.

Police have registered a case against the unidentified people. The spot was earlier visited by police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, DCP Dharmaiah and ACP Jagannath.

Condemning the attack, the Bishop of Mangalore, Dr Aloysius Paul Dsouza, said he was pained by the stone-pelting and damage of property.

The bishop expressed grief over the authorities' lack of action despite several appeals against the series of attacks on churches and prayer halls.

It may be recalled here that in 2008 several dozens of churches and prayer halls were targeted in Mangalore, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar and other small districts in Karnataka. The attack was the handiwork of local Bajrang Dal activists.

"The incidents are recurring on a regular basis," says Bishop Dsouza.

He again appealed to the local administration to offer adequate protection to the places of worship.

Several Christian organisations, including the International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IFKCA) have condemned the Holy Hill attack.

Deputy Speaker of Karnataka Assembly Yogish Bhat said strict action will be taken against the miscreants.

"Defiling of places of worship in my constituency will not be tolerated," he said.

Congress leader Janardhan Poojary meanwhile has pointed fingers at the Sangh Parivar for the attack. He called for a thorough investigation.