Vatican takes cognizance of Justice Saldanha's report

The Vatican is taking seriously the report of Justice Saldanha on the 2008 church attacks in Karnataka.

Pope's representative to India Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio has sought more materials on the independent probe by Justice Saldanha to keep the Vatican informed of the findings and future directions.

Justice Saldanha on Thursday released a 304 page report which stated that the attacks against Christians and vandalism of churches were "well planned, pre meditated and executed with precision".

The report prepared for the People's Union for Civil Liberties and the Transparency International India held the chief minister and the then home minister responsible for the attacks.

Justice Saldanha said his investigation took him to 413 places, 673 witnesses and 2,114 victims.

A copy of the report is to be submitted to Amnesty International and The International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

The report has come less than a month after a Karnataka government appointed panel gave clean chit to theYeddyurappa government and the Sangh Parivar despite substantial evidences proving their involvement.

Earlier this week, over 40,000 Christians assembled for a mammoth peace march that called for a CBI probe into the violence that saw dozens of churches and prayer halls attacked in Mangalore, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kolar and other small districts in Karnataka.

The march, organised by the Catholic Diocese of Mangalore, was joined by priests, bishops and leaders of different Christian denominations.