R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)
Karkala, Sep 11: Police cases are registered at the town police station here against 30 Hindua Jagran Vedike (HJV) activists who barged into Pragathi prayer centre at Nakre Kukkundoor here on Friday September 10 and Benedict, who is alleged to be indulged in religious conversion.
Sunil (20), a resident of Kuntadi, has lodged a complaint at Karkala town police station in this connection. In his compliant, he alleged that Benedict, a resident of Halekatte, who had realized that Sunil, a follower of Hindu religion, was facing financial hardship, had visited him at the bus stand about two months ago and enquired about his welfare. Benedict and another person had visited the residence of Sunil and said that all of his problems will be solved if he converts to Christianity. Sunio also alleged in his complaint that they had made fun saying that there are thousands of Gods in Hindu religion. “There are various high castes and low castes among them. Pray to the Christian God,” Sunil has alleged in the complaint adding that they had given him a small crucifix before leaving.
They had asked Sunil to come to Pragathi center in Nakre on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Likewise, about 70 people had gathered in the house when Sunil went there at 9.30 am. “Benedict had spoken lightly about Hindu religion and their God and said Christianity is the greatest of religions,” stated Sunil in his complaint to the police.
Benedict has also lodged a complaint against the HJV activists. He has stated that about 30 people illegally barged in into the prayer centre being run by Mangaluru based group near Nakre, Kukkundoor when prayers were in progress. “The activists hurled expletives at the praying women, men and children and assaulted them. They have also assaulted a woman and threatened to kill him and others who were praying,” he has stated in the complaint.