86 year old Anglican church burnt in MP

An 86 year old Church in North India was burnt by suspected Bajrang Dal and VHP workers on Sunday.

St. Bartholomio Church of North India in Ratlam city, Madhya Pradesh, was celebrating its 86th anniversary when radicals burnt down the church, according to Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).

The Church is the only English gathering assembly in the district where most of the members are above senior citizen and retired railway employees noted GCIC.

Pastor Jose Mathew, a spokesperson said,"15th August 2008 the VHP and Bajrang Dal
members at the complaint of Mr. Batti, a neighbour, attacked a youth meeting held here, they beat up many participants including Pastor Satya, his wife and Mr. Murthy, the district manager of World Vision. Later police without any enquiry charged them with attempt to conversion.”

The investigating officer and Additional Superintend of Police, Ratlam, Mr. Manish Agarwal said, "Police have filed an FIR under section 295 and 436 of the IPC. We are investigating the case and we do not know whether the VHP or Bajrang Dal is involved in the case."

The Church was completely built on wood, so it caused total damages to the building. The VHP and Bajrang Dal have however denied the whole allegation saying that the Church was burnt due to short circuit. But the local Christian residents say at least five hours is needed to burn down the entire structure so the baseless claim is not true.

The district president of the Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh, Lalu Stephan adds, "The entire episode is planned and it is done by the VHP and Bajrang Dal. Their involvement in the entire episode is easily suspected.”

GCIC urged the govt. authorities to “shut down VHP in their respective countries and carry out a probe under the aegis of United Nations to unearth the terror, death and other violence against minorities carried out by its members.”