Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Nov 13: Richard Monteiro, a resident of Bantwal, said that the activists of Bajrang Dal, who had congregated at B C Road on September 15, 2008, had pelted stones at the passing vehicles. He also affirmed that prior permission had been obtained for the protest the Christians staged at B C Road on that day.
He was replying to the cross examination conducted by Jagadish Shenava, lawyer appearing on behalf of Bajrang Dal, at the hearing into the church attack incidents being conducted by Justice B K Somashekhara Commission at Circuit House here on Thursday November 12.
“The Christians had not forced the shopkeepers to down their shutters that day. We had gathered there to hold peaceful protest against the injustice meted out to our community,” he averred.
To a question as to whether he knows the activists of the Bajrang Dal, Monteiro stated that the region did not have any such activity in the past, but added that he has been hearing about Bajrang Dal since the last four to five years. He explained that he knows that the people identified with Bajrang Dal are youths aged between 20 and 40 years. “After 40, they join Vishwa Hindu Parishat. Do you mean to say so?” Shenava questioned wryly.
Anna Metilda D’Souza, while facing the cross examination, said that lady constables were not present during the incident in Kulshekhar Church on September 15 last, nor had holiday been declared for schools. She said that her children had attended school that day.
One of the witnesses, Lionille Rego, answering a query, said that she is able to identify the Bajrang Dal activists by the saffron shawls that they wear across their shoulders or around their waists.
Ibrahim, M P Noronha and Francis, lawyers representing the Christian witnesses, lawyer Narayan Reddy, representing the police department, and manager of the Commission, Timmavagol, were present.
On this occasion, Justice Somashekhara revealed that the Commission will be submitting its interim report to the government shortly. He said that out of 1,019 affidavits filed with the Commission, the witnesses had adduced evidence in 638 cases. As on date, 126 affidavits remain to be investigated upon, and the Commission hopes to complete the task by December 31 this year, he added.