Southern States - Karnataka   

50 crimes against Christians in six months

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE June 12. At least 50 instances of attacks or atrocities against Christians have been reported in Karnataka in the past six months, and the "relentless persecution of Christians''<149> has assumed alarming proportions. To take this bull by the horns, as it were, the All-India Christian Council today organised a public hearing on atrocities against Christians across South India.

The case of Brother Prashant, from near Tumkur, which was presented to the panel today, is the archetypal small persecution that multiplies the suffering with each telling. On March 9, he had finished rendering <149>a church service to <149>a small community of parishioners in Devagiri, and gone to the home of one of them for breakfast. Barely a few minutes later, a group of saffron-clad, knives<149>- and stick-wielding men knocked at the door of his hostess, and asked to know if anyone from the church was present in the house. Brother Prashant was fetched, and what followed was a nightmare. Liturgical items and other objects were thrown askew, and idols and photographs of Jesus Christ became playthings in their hands.

Brother Prashant was manhandled, his habit removed, and he was forced to utter slogans such as "Jai Hindu Dharma''<149>, and apply kumkum.

He was let off with threats "not be seen in the vicinity again,''<149> or be answerable to Bajrang Dal activists, as they described themselves. Brother Prashanth later managed to file a complaint with the police.

Chowdamma of Palahalli village in Mysore, who converted to Christianity recently, exemplifies the dilemma that haunts dalit converts. A small house in her village is where about 15 Christians congregate, and that is a luxury that costs them a great deal. Boycott of shopkeepers who are Christians, and harassment and threats to those who help these people are a horrific reality in remote villages in Mysore.

In Mysore city, one of the deponents said, the Government Order that bans religious congregation of any sort is selectively and "viciously''<149> applied to the Christian community.

The council Secretary General, John Dayal, spoke of how everything changed forever for Christians in India after the murder of Graham Staines and his two sons.

Being "lesser citizens" had been their lot since Independence, but now the growing intolerance was affecting everyone in more spirit-breaking ways than ever before.

The panel heard about 50 cases from Karnataka and other States. The jury included the retired judge, H.G. Balakrishna, and the Gandhian and former Planning Commission Member, L.C. Jain.

Oliver D'Souza from the council said the affidavits coming out of today's hearing would be forwarded to the National Human Rights Commission for redress, and to the State Government for action.

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