Five held for attack on prayer group in Kerala

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 

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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Christian prayer group attacked in Kerala by RSS and BJP members

Eight persons sustained minor injuries after nearly 50 persons allegedly owing allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a prayer group at Attingal on Sunday.

The Attingal police said the incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. when the Reaching World with Love Ministry, a Pentecostal group, was holding a prayer meeting at the municipal library hall. The activists marched to the venue raising slogans and accused the group of organising a conversion drive and targeting those belonging to the Hindu faith. The police registered a case against 20 persons.

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Chapels Damaged in Kerala

On 29 April, suspected Hindu extremists damaged three chapels in Irinjalakuda diocese allegedly as a fallout of the police action when they cleared the way for the "way of Cross' procession of the Saint Anthony's Catholic Church resulting in about 25 in custody.
Our correspondent, Rev Noel Kotian reported that on 11 April, the extremists blocked the procession of St Antony's Catholic Church and recited Hindu hymns. The police intervened and cleared the passage for the procession.
Church authorities said they had taken permission from the temple authorities to let the procession pass through the temple premises and that it was the practice for several years.
However, the extremists claimed that they had objected to the procession as they had the temple authorities' order for the same. However, the police said that they allowed the procession to pass through the temple premises on the strength of the order of the temple authorities.

Source: EFINEWS

Hindu extremists attack Bible College in Kerala

New Hope Bible College, Palunda, was organising their annual Bible convention on 11th April 2013. While the meeting was on, a group of about 150 persons belonging to Hindu Aikyavedi, a Hindu fundamentalist organisation barged into the meeting venue and started attacking the believers and organisers.

They were accusing the organisers of forcefully converting backward community people to Christianity and instructed the organisers to send back the believers belonging to the backward community. The police team from Nilambur lead by Circle Inspector Mr. P Chandran reached the place and had discussions with the attackers and the organisers. After discussion, the organisers agreed to send back the people as demanded by the radical Hindus.

After reaching the agreement with the organisers, the Hindu radicals started attacking the press photographer Mr Rajesh of local channel “Swantham”. The police intervened and rescued Mr Rajesh. He was then taken to a private hospital in Chungathara and was later shifted to another private hospital in Nilambur.

After sending Mr Rajesh to the hospital, the police then started to send the believers to wayanad, the Hindu radicals started stoning the bus and damaged the glasses. The police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to control the situation.

Source : GCIC