Demand to prosecute Bajrang, VHP men over attack

Minority organizations and civil right groups have severely criticized the BJP government for refusing to prosecute VHP and Bajrang Dal members who attacked a Christian priest in Rajasthan.

A gang of 20 VHP activists, led by its Jaipur unit general secretary Virendra Singh Ravana, allegedly attacked Pastor Walter Masih in his prayer room on April 29, 2007.

The perpetrators ransacked the house of Pastor Masih and even thrashed him with lathis and rods, leaving him profusely bleeding.

Later on August 2007, police arrested 14 accused, registering a case against them under six sections of the Indian Penal Code, relating to rioting, causing hurt, house trespass and causing damage.

Police added Sections 153–A (hate speech), 295–A (insulting a religion or religious beliefs) and 505(3) (offensive statements made at a place of worship) of I.P.C. to the charges against the accused during the course of investigation and sought the State government's sanction for prosecution as required by Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

However the accused were released on bail by the Rajasthan High Court after its denial first by the trial court and later by the Sessions Court on the basis of prima facie evidence produced against them.

Christian Today learnt that the investigation have been closed, without any action against the perpetrators.

"It is shocking that the government was not ready to prosecute these people. I feel threatened," said Pastor Masih.

"The government has refused sanction of prosecution of the accused in serious offenses of hate speech, injuring or defiling places of worship and statements inciting public mischief," said Ms Kavita Srivastva of the People's Union for Civil Liberties.

"The act of refusal by the government shows its open support to the communal elements who violated the Fundamental Rights of not only father Walter Masih, but of the Christian community as a whole," she said.

Srivastva further added that it was the BJP government to be blamed, even though the police had done a commendable job.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) recently urged the Indian government to take strong steps to hold accountable members of its security forces and political organizations responsible for torture, arbitrary detentions, killings and disappearances.

It demanded that the government fulfill its responsibility to protect and support vulnerable communities, including Dalits, tribal groups, religious minorities and women.

“As the world’s largest democracy, India should set the standard for the Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “India must make credible commitments to uphold its constitutional and international obligations and provide justice to those who continue to suffer human rights abuse.”