Church vandalised again in Bangalore

Unknown miscreants attacked a Church Wednesday in India's IT capital destroying part of the Church building including breaking of over 10 windows and the statues of Jesus and Mary.

According to Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), St. Francis De Sales Church near Hebbagodi, Anekal Taluk within Electronic City in the outskirt of Bangalore, Karnataka state, was badly damaged.

The sources said, a group of 15-20 radicals armed with armed with deadly weapons broke open the Church at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. During the attack one residence behind the Church was also damaged.

The report alleged that it was a "planned attack" and it went on for about an hour. Later some of the neighbours came out because of the noise, by then the radicals had left the place.

The report said due to the heighten attacks on Churches in Karnataka state, as a precautionary measure, the Church was protected by security guards all these days but because of the prevailing peaceful situation, the security guards were withdrawn for the past one week.

About 3,000 believers attend the Church which has services in different languages like Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and English.

The Church has lodged a complaint and filed an FIR at the area police station. No one has claimed the responsibility so far.

Father Aronnis, Chief Priest of St. Francis De Sales Church has demanded justice and security from the government.

"We want justice from the government and the concerned authorities, so that no Indian citizen can hound the freedom to practice one's own religion and everybody can live safely and securely," he said.

"We want the security. These unwanted elements should not go on spoiling the peace and security of Indian citizens," he added.

Bangalore-based GCIC has demanded a inquiry into the continued harassment and intimidation against the Christian community in Karnataka.

According to the Christian advocacy group, Karnataka ruled by the Hindu nationalist party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recorded the second most number of attacks on Christians - at least 112 anti-Christian attacks across 29 districts in 2008, and at least 20 more such incidents have been reported this year.