Easter marred by violence in Karnataka

Mangalore – In Karnataka, Hindu activist groups, known for their opposition to activities of Christian groups in the region, allegedly attacked, two Christian prayer gatherings on Easter Sunday.

The first attack took place around 11 am in the prayer hall of the ‘Believers Church’. A group of around 10 persons allegedly belonging to Bajrang Dal, youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindu Council, barged into a prayer hall of Believers Church in Bantaguri in Bantwal taluk. They assaulted the preacher, Pastor V.P. Paulose and ransacked the property.

The second incident took place in Balmatta, around 25 people attacked an Easter function of the Christian Student Community, attended mostly by women and children.

They assaulted Preacher John, resulting in his hospitalization. The miscreants also attacked the priest’s house and a car.

The Balmatta event occurred in the afternoon when women and children were praying in a hall belonging in a hall belonging to the Student Christian Community (SJM), near Shanthi Nilaya, served by the Kadri police.

According to an eye witnesses, the miscreants waited for the men to leave the venue and then barged into the hall. They locked themselves in the hall and ransacked it, threatening those present “with dire consequences” should they report the attack. When they reopened the hall, they fled with objects belonging to the community.

The Hindu extremists vandalized furniture and equipment worth more than 150,000 rupees (US$3,327) at the hall.

Police officials have informed that an FIR had been lodged against the attackers for unlawful assembly, rioting with weapons, vandalism, house trespass, criminal intimidation, and defiling place of worship respectively.