Christians
attend a protest against the killings and atrocities on Christians in
Odissa and Karnataka, in New Delhi September 26, 2008. Credit:
Reuters/Adnan Abidi/Files
New Delhi: Members of
right-wing groups attacked Christians in Karnataka’s Kolar district on
Saturday (December 11), including setting religious books on fire.
Representatives of Christian groups were preaching from door to door
in Srinivasapura and distributing booklets when the attack occurred. The
police, according to NDTV,
said Christians had been “warned against” distributing booklets. They
added that since there is no complaint, no FIR has been filed. “We have
warned the Christian community to not create any communal disharmony by
going door-to-door and preaching. Both parties, the right wing and the
Christian community members have settled the matter amicably,” an
officer told the channel.
According to the Indian Express,
while members of the Christian groups had met the police and spoken to
them after the incident, no complaint was registered against the
right-wing mob.
While the attackers had alleged “forced conversion” by the
Christians, the group maintained that they were only distributing
booklets and not forcing anyone into anything.
On the same day, another anti-Christian attack took place in Belagavi, with a priest being chased by a man carrying a machete, Hindustan Times reported.
In a viral video, the machete-carrying man can be seen chasing Father
Francis D’Souza, parish priest of St Joseph Worker Church on Bauxite
Road. The man follows the priest for some time before leaving.
Karnataka
has seen a string of attacks against Christian groups in recent day. As
reported, instead of providing security or going after the
perpetrators, the police have told the Christian community in Belagavi to avoid prayer meets if they wish to remain safe.
A recent fact-finding report by civil society organisation also found
that in Dakshina Kannada alone, at least 71 instances of communal
discord, all attracting criminal charges, took place in the eight-month
period starting January this year.
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