Batala violence 'profoundly depressing': NCCI official

The scene in Batala is totally heartbreaking, says a church official who was on a solidarity visit to Punjab last week.

Two Protestant churches were burnt and several Christians injured after violence erupted in Batala following protests over an offensive picture of Jesus Christ.

Both the churches - a Salvation Army and Church of North India - were member churches of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), an apex body of the Protestant and Orthodox churches.

With reports that the Feb. 20 violence was "brutal" in nature, a delegation of the NCCI led by Secretary of Commission on Justice, Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, traveled to the incident place and met with tormented victims, the public and district administration.

"It is shocking and profoundly depressing to see how Christians were attacked and their properties damaged," said Rev. Christopher. "Miscreants broke the main door of a church and destroyed the pulpit, lectern, burnt the Bibles, broke all the chairs and benches, including two expensive electronic Musical instruments."

In a conversation with Christian Today, he explained how sword-wielding assailants besieged a historical church.

"The 150-year-old CNI Epiphany Church, constructed in Persian Architecture, was invaded by miscreants who broke into the Church, poured fuel and burnt the furniture including the main Cross on the Altar," narrates Christopher.

"The pulpit was pushed, the monolithic marble Baptismal Pit was broken and religious books including Bibles, Hymn books and Liturgy were burnt," he added. "They broke the vestry door and burnt the cassock of the pastor and tried to destroy the records kept in a steel cupboard by axing it."

"Later, they went to a Church worker's house and broke the main door, entered it and started attacking the women at home. They brought the Church Worker's motor bike outside and burnt it."

Christopher is aghast and says the pattern of violence seemed similar to the Orissa pogrom when fundamentalist groups stepped up offensive against Christians on spurious charges.

The NCCI, he said, calls for an investigation and a genuine inter-faith peace committee to deflect any future untoward incidents.

"If action is not taken, this spark can start a spectral fire," observes Christopher.

Violence in Batala was triggered by an offensive picture of Jesus Christ with a beer can and a cigarette on a Ramnavami hoarding.

In protest to the act, local Christian Communities demonstrated a 'dharna' demanding the removal of the holding. As peaceful protests were being taken, some vested interests reportedly indulged in arson, looting and violence.

"The Indian Christian Community had a similar experience in Orissa on Dec. 24 2007 where a similar attack took place during peace meetings," recalls Christopher.

"It got settled, but only after 9 months during which all Christian Communities were tormented."