CNI church attacked in Mumbai

A Church of North India (CNI) gathering was yesterday attacked by anti-social elements in Mumbai.

According to a national daily, eight persons allegedly ransacked St Emmanuel Church in Orlem, Malad (W) on Sunday evening.

Several believers were beaten up and one Mr Ponkumar Nadar is said to have sustained serious injuries. Nadar is undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

"The congregation was attacked with rods and other blunt weapons," reported the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF). "Even women and children were not spared."

Joseph Dias, secretary of CSF, said the men were drunk when they barged into the church during the prayer meeting.

The Malwani police have detained two persons. Abraham Mathai, vice-chairman, Maharashtra Minorities Commission, has called for strict probe into the incident.

CSF said some sources had identified the gang to be part of Hindutva groups.

In another incident, a team of students from a Bible college in Lucknow of Uttar Pradesh has been attacked and detained by the police allegedly of conversion charges.

The police beat up four of the students belonging to Compassion for India Ministry at Telibag near SGPGI in Lucknow late in the evening on 24 July 2010.

The students have been engaged in serving the poor and underprivileged in and around Lucknow.