The Hindu

Mangalore, Nov 11: The Justice B.K. Somasekhara Commission of Inquiry looking into the church attacks has asked the State Government to submit a list of policemen posted at the Kulasekhara church on September 15, 2008.

The commission directed government advocate Narayana Reddy to furnish the names following an observation made by a witness. The witness Lancy Rego, an employee of a private firm and resident of Kulasekhara, told the commission that Bajrang Dal activists, who came in police uniforms, had assaulted Christians at the venue. Taking note of this, Mr. Justice Somasekhara asked Mr. Reddy to furnish the names of policemen posted at the church on the day of the incident. Mr. Rego maintained that Bajrang Dal activist had attempted to enter the church through the back door, but this was prevented by those inside the church.

Later, Victor Vaz, vice-president of the governing council of the church, told the commission that he had seen Bajrang Dal workers assaulting Christians. This, he said, had happened near the southern side of the church. He was replying to the cross-examination by advocate for the Bajrang Dal Jagadish Shenava. At one point, Justice Somasekhara said that certain TV channels had told the commission that they had not preserved the video footage of news telecast on different occasions regarding the church attacks.