Mulky: Prayer Centre Attack - Protestors Demand Stern Action
Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Mulky (SP)
Mulky, Jan 2: Protestors who came together to condemn the recent attack on Hebron Assembly, a prayer centre in Haleangady in the taluk recently, held a meeting in front of the centre on the evening of SundayJanuary 1.
Addressing the protestors, Rajashekhar, president of Komu Sauharda Vedike, Mangalore, noted that the incidence of attacks on prayer centres by communal forces has gone up considerably after BJP came to power in the state.
“The attacks, which began happening in Gujarat in the past, have now started occurring in places like Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Davangere districts regularly. Two politicians and Suratkal police station were the ones who supported the attackers,” he alleged.
Speaking on the occasion, Walter Maben, president of Karnataka Mission Network, reasoned that no one opts to get converted to another religion because of monetary lure. He said missionaries are known to follow the principle of non-violence, and they have never attacked centres of other religions. He blamed sloppy handling of law and order situation by the police, and the cooperation being extended by the policemen of Mulky police station to the communal goons.
He also said that the day on which the above attack was launched, is a black day in the history of Haleangady. Louis Lobo said that such attacks are being executed by lower rung of the communal organizations, and hence, demanded sterner steps against the abettors of communal violence, rather than concerted action alone against the attackers.
E W Frank, president of All India Pastors Association, wanted law against organized communal violence to be adopted at the earliest to end recurrence of such incidents. He expressed the opinion that the policemen and activists of Bajrang Dal were behind the said attack. He promised to get in touch with the additional director general of police, and ensure that first information report is filed without any delay. “I am now 72. Hindu organizations have been creating disturbances in our activities since the last 16 years. We have lost our patience, and such things will not be tolerated. I will fight till my death for the sake of justice. I am not afraid of police forces,” he said.
President of Komu Sauharda Vedike, Udupi, and all the pastors of Hebron Assembly units in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts were present.