Grotto near St Mary's Church Kolar Attacked - Idol Desecrated
from Dilip Katipalla
Daijiworld Media Network - Kolar (GA)
Kolar, Sep 17: While Mangalore is gradually limping back to normalcy after three days of violent protests, incidents of stone-pelting, police's brutality which started after the Bajrangdal attacked some prayer houses of Christians across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts on Sunday September 14, miscreants in others parts of the state seems to have raised their ugly head. This was proved right after some unknown miscreants attacked a grotto situated near St Mary's Catholic church, Kolar in the wee hours of Wednesday September 17.
Though St Mary's Church boasts of sizeable Catholic population, they rarely frequent the church. However, the grotto situated near the church has been visited daily not only by Catholics but also members of other communities. Infact certain people from among the Hindus have been taking care of this grotto and a Hindu person is involved in keeping it clean everyday.
However, when he came to clean the grotto on Wednesday morning, he found that he had been attacked as a result of which the idol of Mother Mary had broken and the glasses covering the idol had been damaged. He immediately informed the members of Catholic community about the incident. Though adequate police security had not been provided to the church following attacks in Mangalore, a night patrol police visits this grotto everyday at 3 am and signs the register. So it is presumed that miscreants might have attacked the grotto after 3 in the morning. Some sources said that two persons who came on a two-wheeler attacked the grotto.
It could be noted that Catholics of the region had staged protest in Kolar against the attacks on Christians in Mangalore, Orissa and Davangere, on Monday September 15.
Situation is under control as of now and senior police officials and deputy commissioner have already visited the spot. Adequate protection has been provided to the church.
Beltangady: Arsonists Attack St George Church Ujire, Desecrate Sacrament, Burn Books
Pics: Laxmi Machina - Ujire
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Sep 17: Unidentified arsonists targetted the Malayalam Catholic church named St George Church of Ujire under Beltangady diocese in the wee hours of Wednesday September 17, presumably between 3 and 4 am. They broke open the locks of the front door, before gaining entry into the church hall, it is learnt.
The incident came to light when parish priest Fr Mani along with the Sisters of the Franciscan Clarists came to the church at about 5:45 am. It was found, that the hooligans had desecrated the sacrament of the church and thrown it onto the road. They had heaped together the books found in the church on the altar, and set them on fire, after soaking them with kerosene. The Crucifix was also damaged by them. Luckily, the fire did not spread to other places in the hall, which would have been disastrous, informed Fr Joseph from Bishop's House, Beltangady.
The police were immediaely informed, and sub-inspector Rane visited the spot. Beltangady tahsildar Chandramma too came to the church and inspected the damage done.
Hordes of devotees have started thronging the place, after getting the news. The priest has asked the people to maintain peace and not to take law into their hands. The unexpected turn of events have shaken the devotees of Ujire and surrounding places.
Mangalore: City Limping Back to Normalcy - Several Miscreants Arrested
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 17: Barring minor incidents, the Mangalore taluk bandh, a call for which was given by Sriram Sene on Tuesday September 16, was peaceful and total. Most of the shops and establishments observed the bandh voluntarily and attendance in offices was very thin.
Private vehicles could move about freely. KSRTC operated a few buses between Udupi and Mangalore to help the stranded passengers. District Co-operative Milk Union president Kaup Diwakar Shetty said, that the union could not supply milk in the afternoon, as two of its vehicles suffered damage in stone pelting incidents on Monday afternoon.
Buses and other vehicles have started moving about normally since today morning and shops, hotels and offices are open today. The prohibitory orders were in force till 6 am on Wednesday September 17.
There are indications, that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit the city within a few days, in the light of the recent disturbances.
Mangalore: Several Miscreants Arrested in Twin-districts
Mangalore, Sep 17: Relating to the attacks on churches and prayer centres across the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on Sunday September 14, the police have arrested several people allegedly involved in these attacks.
Four persons from Beltangady taluk including Anil and Balakrishna from Kalmanja village, who are facing charges of attacking Mahima Prayer Centre of Parenki in Madantyar, were arrested. The court granted bail to both of them.
In Kundapur, the policemen arrested five persons in a case of attack on prayer centres in Shirur. Uday, Harish, Vinay Hebbar, Jagadish and Megani Chandra, who were staying at a lodge in Haladipur, were arrested on Monday September 15 for their involvement with attacks on prayer centres at Shirur. Madhukar Ganiga, Raju Poojary, Sathish Shetty, Uday Bovi and Santhosh were arrested by DySP Shashidhar from Byndoor on Tuesday September 16.
Nine accused surrendered to the police at Kadaba police station on Tuesday, in connection with attack on a Christian prayer centre located near Nettana railway station under Bilinele gram panchayat. It is learnt, that they were remanded to 15 days of judicial custody.
In an incident that occured at Bobbekeri Kody near Vittal, the secretary of Vittal gram panchayat K Mohammed(55) suffered head injuries, when a group of three men pelted stones at a government bus arriving in Vittal from Mangalore. He has been admitted to a private hospital in Vittal.
Two persons named Imtiaz and Mustafa from Goltamajal were arrested by the police in connection with an incident of stabbing a person named Navin on the night of Monday September 15. Both were remanded to judial custody till September 30 by the court.
Vishwanath, Santosh and Jagadish from Ponnangila, who are facing charges of pelting stones at a house in Loretto, were remanded to a day's judicial custody by the court on being arrested and produced there by the policemen.
The New Life prayer centre in Vittal has been provided with police protection. No untoward incidents were reported from Vittal town on Tuesday.
Rumour mills continued churning out imaginary stories, worrying the people of the district further over the safety of their family members who had been out of their houses. Passengers were the worst hit, as buses were off the roads. DK district superintendent of police Sateesh Kumar has informed, that the situation is under control.
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