Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 18: On the second day of its hearing, Justice B K Somashekhar Commission of Inquiry, conducted hearing and cross examination of the Christian representatives who had filed affidavits about such attacks.

Bantwal Loretto Church priest Fr Cyprian Pinto, Bajpe St Joseph Church priest Fr Mathias Pereira, teacher from Bajpe Juliet Moraes, zilla panchayat member Victoria D'Cunha and Mangalore Padua PU College principal Fr Michael Santhumayor were examined during the day. They were also cross-examined.

Lawyer B Ibrahim appeared on behalf of the witnesses. Advocate Satischandra conducted cross-examination. Public prosecutor M Narayan Reddy and L N Hegde were present. Commission secretary N Vidyashankar, Hemalata Mahishi and others too were present.

Justice Somashekhar informed that the cases are being grouped into five categories, general, medium, complex and others. "This is a normal judicial process. The commission will record statements of all the people concerned," he explained.

In reply to questions, both Fr Cyprian Pinto and Fr Mathias Pereira said that they neither rang the church bells nor instructed any others to ring the bells for bringing Christians together in the churches. They also informed that they had not led any road blockade or protests held in this connection. "After receiving information about the issuance of prohibitory orders under section 144, we had requested the protestors not to hold the protests," they said. They also confessed that they chose to allege the involvement of Bajrang Dal or Hindu organizations in the incidents, after Bajrang Dal state convener Mahendra Kumar claimed through the television medium on the day of the attacks, that his organization had spearheaded the attacks, they clarified.