Church attacks: Two cops suspended, VHP denies role
Source: Indiatimes.com
Bangalore, Sep 21: In the first action against policemen in connection with
attacks on Christian places of worship in Karnataka, two constables were
suspended on Sunday in Kodagu district where window panes of a church were
damaged in stone throwing on Saturday night.
"Two constables, Nandakumar and Shivaram, have been suspended following the
incident in Siddapura police jurisdiction (about 40 km from district
headquarters Madikeri)," Kodagu police superintendent T R Satish told on the
telephone from Madikeri.
On Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had told senior civil and
police officials of the districts that they will be held responsible if attacks
on Christian places of worship, which began last Sunday, occurred in their
areas.
"Strict action will be taken against you without fear or favour," he told them
Sunday morning on receiving reports of fresh incidents of attacks and stone
throwing at churches at two places in Bangalore, one on the city's outskirts and
the fourth in Siddapura on Saturday night and early hours of Sunday.
One church in Mariannana Palya in northeast Bangalore was vandalised on Saturday
by people who entered by breaking open its backdoor, city police commissioner
Shankar Bidari said.
A statue of Virgin Mary outside a church in Rajarajeshwari Nagar was damaged in
stone throwing on Sunday morning. A church at Boonahalli on city outskirts was
also stoned Saturday night, police said.
Seven people were being questioned in connection with the Mariyannana Palya
incident, they said.
The Karnataka unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday denied that it
or the Bajrang Dal were involved in the attacks on Christian places of worship.
"We oppose conversion by force or inducement and will continue to fight against
but we do not believe or indulge in violence," VHP zonal secretary B N Murthy
told reporters.
Murthy asserted that Karnataka Bajrang Dal convener Mahendra Kumar, who has been
arrested, never said his outfit was behind the attacks.
Kumar is in jail in Dakshina Kannada on charges of criminal conspiracy and
promoting animosity on the basis of religion.