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Saffron brigade beats up Christians
Published on Tue, May 08, 2007 at 21:28, Updated on Tue, Jun 19, 2007 at 13:15 in India section
Tags: Maharashtra, Kolhapur , New Delhi
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New Delhi: In a shocking incident, two Christian priests were beaten up in broad daylight by a group of men belonging to the Bajrang Dal and the VHP in Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur.
What's even more shocking is that the two priests, who were being accused of forced conversion, were dragged to the police station, where they were formally detained.
Subsequently, the attackers they went scot-free though Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil assured a thorough probe.
“The people should have filed a complaint if they had any grievance against the priests. Strict action will be taken against all those involved,” he said.
The Kolhapur attack has striking similarities to the one that took place just a week ago in Jaipur. On April 29, it was Pastor Walter Messih who was beaten up by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. These attacks have evoked sharp reactions.
“I believe it is a pattern that VHP and Bajrang Dal have chosen to terrorise the Christian community in this nation,” said Abraham Mathai from Maharashtra State Minority Commission.
But by no means are these attacks scattered incidents, particularly in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
These incidents bring back chilling memories of the murder of Graham Staines in Orissa in 1999. Staines and his two children were burnt alive in his jeep by Bajrang Dal activists.
While most of these attacks are still pegged on allegations of 'forced conversions', the terrain of violence has now moved on to cities.
What is more striking is that such attacks are now committed in the presence of media.
And as TV cameras record blow by blow accounts of this brutal reality, the law remains a mute witness.
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