Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)
Mangalore, Apr 18: The Kadri police have arrested six persons on charges of going on a rampage during a prayer meeting in Shanti Nilaya in Balmatta on Easter Sunday afternoon.
The miscreants have been named as Avinash (21) of Kolya, Rajesh Shetty (25) of Tokkottu, Mohandas (30) of Kunjatbail, Dhanaraj (23), Hemachandra (26) and Ramesh (20) of Kavoor.
They were produced in court and later released on bail. A group of over 30 persons are said to have barged into the Shanti Nilaya prayer hall on Sunday afternoon and had warned the people there not to attempt to proselytize people of other communities.
Devaraj, a Balmatta resident, speaking to Daijiworld said the people of the locality have always been peace-loving. He said the contribution of the Basel Mission to printing, vocational training and other fields has been significant. He said no communities faced any problems from any activity in the Mission Compound anytime.
He also pointed out that all the trouble-makers hailed from distant suburbs of the city. These unemployed youth were being misguided and instigated by some forces behind the scenes who wanted to remain safe and use others in mischief of this kind. In fact, these forces should be identified and brought to book, said Devaraj. At the same time, he stressed that he was against any religious conversion by ruses or coercion, while also saying everyone had the freedom to practise a faith of his or her choice.