Four more churches attacked in Karnataka; CM blames cops

Four fresh incidents of attack on churches in Karnataka were reported on Sunday even after the Central Government issued a warning and enhanced security measures were undertaken by the ruling BJP government.

Unidentified persons broke open the door of a church in Mariyannapalya and ransacked it in the early hours Sunday. While another group attacked churches in Rajarajeswari Nagar and Banaswadi in the city and at Nelliyahudikeri near Siddapura in Kodagu district since last night, police said.

In Rajarajeswari Nagar, some persons threw stones at the glass enclosure housing the two–feet–tall statue of infant Jesus and fled. However, they did not enter the church premises, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) M R Pujar told PTI.

The fresh attacks on churches in the state follows the Friday arrest of Mahendra Kumar, state chief of the Hindu right–wing Bajrang Dal, on charges of inciting communal violence.

The Bajrang Dal took responsibility for a series of attacks on churches since September 14 in Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts, on "forced conversion" charges.

More than 80 people, including 45 policemen, were injured in the violence in Mangalore.

The National Commission for Minorities (NCM), investigating the violence, blamed Sangh Parivar outfit Bajrang Dal for the communal violence in NDA–ruled states of Karnataka and Orissa.

"Our teams have returned from both states. Bajrang Dal activists are involved in attacks in both places. NCM will send reports on communal clashes in the two states to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon," NCM chairman Md Shafi Qureshi said.

The Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa meanwhile will meet his state cabinet later on Monday to discuss the incidents of communal violence in the state.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told reporters that all the district authorities were asked to provide foolproof security to the people coming for Sunday prayers at places of worship and prayer halls. The district officials would be held responsible for any law and order problems.

However, on the fresh incidents of attacks at Christians on Sunday, Yedyurappa held police responsible.

“I admit there were lapses on the part of police. Else, these incidents would not have happened. They have not taken precautionary measures. We will not tolerate this dereliction of duty," he said.

The CM termed the attacks a "systematic and organized conspiracy' ' to disturb law and order.

Meantime, opposition parties in the state accused the state's BJP party of supporting the Hindu radical's attacks and its failure to control violence.

In a letter to the PM, JD (S) leader H D Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister, demanded immediate imposition of President's rule under Article 356 for breakdown of law and order machinery and failure to protect lives and property.

He sought a ban on Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sena as "they posed a threat to the nation's integrity''. He described the Bajrang Dal as the VHP's youth wing and the Sri Ram Sena as a Hindutva militia that has perpetrated senseless atrocities. "How can one distinguish between Hindu and Islamic terrorists, if at all they belong to any religion,'' he wondered.

The wave of violence and destruction follows weeks of anti–Christian militancy in the eastern state of Orissa in which over 30 people have been killed and thousands forced to flee from their homes and take refuge in the surrounding jungles. Tension still runs high in many parts of the state.