The police have arrested five persons in
connection with the attack on a prayer group at Attingal.
The arrested were identified as Anoop, 36, of
Kizhattingal; Anoop, 30, of Velloorkonam; Abijith, 22, of Attakulam; Vimal, of
Chittattinkara; and Deepu, 26, of Kallambalam.
The case related to a group, allegedly
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers,
attacking a prayer group at Attingal on Sunday when Reaching World with Love
Ministry, a Pentecostal group, was holding a meeting.
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Coverage by Indian Express
Coverage by Indian Express
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Attingal police on
Monday identified and arrested five persons in connection with the attack on a
Christian prayer hall here on Sunday. The accused are T T Anoop, 38 of
Elappuram, Attingal; Anoop, 30 of Kizhuvalam; Abhijith,22 of Attakulam
Attingal; Vimal, 30 of Kizhuvalam and Deepu, 20 of Kallambalam.
According to the police, the five are suspected
to be RSS activists who unleashed an attack on the prayer hall, leaving many
devotees injured.
The incident occurred on Sunday at 12.30 pm,
when 50 of the suspected RSS activists barged into the prayer hall situated at
the Attingal Riot Memorial Library hall and attacked the people assembled in
the hall, including the pastor, without any provocation.
The prayer group named ‘Reaching the world with
love ministry’ was conducting the weekly prayer meet. Over 200 people were
gathered for the prayer meet.
“Despite manhandling the devotees, the
activists also allegedly vandalised valuable equipment including televisions
and cameras and destroyed the food kept for lunch. The injured people were -
including pastor Siju, 24 - Sam, 26, Valsala,48, Binu, 42, Saju, 24 and Baby
Girija, 45. All of them are out of danger and recovering well. However, the
investigation is on to find more persons involved in the attack and they will
be nabbed soon,” a police official said.
Rural SP Shefeen Ahamed said that the
assailants allegedly broke a finger of a middle aged woman and even beat up a
physically challenged man seated on a chair, asking him to get up and clear
off. “This is an attack on the freedom of religion”, the SP said.
Condemning the incident, Home Minster Ramesh
Chennithala said that it was nothing but an attack on belief and everyone had
the right to believe and worship. However, the government and the citizens were
committed to giving full protection to them.
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