Tamil Nadu the next target for anti–Christian violence, 22 arrested

It started in Orissa, spread to southern Karnataka, and now Tamil Nadu – the next target of violence on Christians, as over eight incidents of attacks have been reported this month.

In fresh attacks, two churches, a Christian institution and a cemetery was vandalised by unknown persons earlier this week.

One of the incidents took place inside the ‘Our Lady high School’ at Mathagondapalli near Thali in Dharmapuri District.

The school authorities have filed a complaint with the police.
“Some unknown persons entered the school and damaged the statues. Our police team has entered the school and registered a case. We will investigate,” said Vijayram, an inspector at the Thali Police Station.

Even though police have beefed up security at churches, mosques and temples, two churches were attacked, one at Arapalayam in Madurai and another in Namakkal district.

The glass pane of a small square enclosure at the entrance to the St. Aloysius Church there was smashed in an incident of stone–pelting after 1 am early this morning, police sources said.

A similar incident was reported from Kanniykumari district down south yesterday, where some miscreants damaged a statue of Virgin Mary, in St. Xavier's Church in Nagercoil.

In addition, miscreants vandalized a cemetery in Villupuram, about 160 km from Chennai.

Police said 20 holy crosses in the cemetery of St Paul’s church near Katpadi on the Villupuram–Chennai highway were damaged on Wednesday. A family that visited the cemetery to offer prayers saw the damaged tombstones and informed authorities.

Warning stern action, including invoking the provisions of the Goonda's act, against those attacking churches and statues in the state, the police detained 22 people for their alleged involvement.

"Action has been initiated against 22 persons on charges of stoning and damaging statues in places of worship. Those who indulge in such activities that may cause enmity between religious groups would be dealt with sternly and jailed under the Goondas' Act," Tamil Nadu Director General of Police K.P. Jain said in a press statement.

Hindu Munnani (Front), one of the saffron groups accused of instigating the violent acts on churches said, "We are fighting against forced conversions, and there is no end to our protests and demonstrations."

Munnani head Rama Gopalan said, "Yesterday, the police claimed four people were arrested and the figure has gone up to 22 today (Friday). The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has over 600 centres statewide. Since this government is bent upon appeasing the minorities, we expect more of our cadres who are peacefully protesting against fraudulent conversions and proselytising activities of the church to be arrested."

For months, armed Hindu fanatics have been burning churches, rampaging through villages and subjecting terrified Christians to forcible conversion to Hinduism in the eastern state of Orissa.

According to reports, some 300 Christian villages have been destroyed in the state, 4,400 houses burnt, 50,000 people made homeless and 60 Christians killed and 18,000 injured.

Hindu hardliners of the VHP and RSS accuse Christian missionaries of forced conversions and attribute these attacks as their violent aggression claiming 'India to be a Hindu nation’.