Bangalore Church was set fire by miscreants

On 13 Oct 2008 early morning at 1am Attack on  St Anthony Catholic
Church at Yedavanahalli village in Attibele, near Hosur, in Bangalore
Urban district, was carried out despite the presence of two police
constables outside and the church was set fire. Police said they had
kept the main doors of the church open in order to take shelter during
rains. But the police noticed fire at 1am in informed fire brigage.
Later on the Police, Chief Minister, Home Minister of Karnataka gave a
statement saying the fire was carried out because of the fire. But the
eye witnesses who visited the church say that the fire was
deliberately set by the miscreants as they could see that bibles are
burnt, Hymn books are burnt, vandalised the things, music system were
burnt. To their surprise all the lights, fans of the church were
working no there was no damage of electricity at all. Karnataka chief
minister should explain how a short circuit can take place without
damaging electricity system of the church. Previously the same Chief
Minister and Home minister informed that the vandalism of blessed
sacrament at Bangalore church was because of theft.  He has not taken
proper action on so called Bajrang Dal people who openly admitted the
sereis of attacks they carried out in more than 20 churches of
Karanatka.
Here is the press statement which explains in details about the fire
on Bangalore church
with regards
Ancy DSouza, Paladka
Vasai, Mumbai



St Anthony Catholic Church at Yedavanahalli village in Attibele, near
Hosur, Bangalore
13th October, 2008
Press Release

We the three members of various human rights organisations today on
13th October visited the St. Anthony Church at Yadavanahalli near
Attibele. We got the information that the same church was burnt on
previous night.

The members of the team are Mr. Uvaraj of Karnataka Komu Souharda
Vedike, Ms Manoranjani of Alternative Law Forum of Banglore and
Debaranjan Sarangi of Orissa visited the area. We interacted with
Father of the church, other staffs of the same church, police
officials, electrical engineers of BESCOM and local people.

We feel that it is same incident of church burning by the miscreants
unleashed since 14th September, 2008. There is clear evidence that the
church and several things were burnt by the outsiders. It is learned
that when the things were burning there was nobody  inside the church.
The police who suppose to be on security were not present  at the time
of incident.

While entering the church we could immediately see several parts and
objects of the church burnt: musical instruments such as piano and
drums, sacred books such as religious music books and prayer books.

We entered the room behind the prayer hall and it was dark burned ash
everywhere. Few images of saints, infant Jesus and mother Mary
together with a cross, several bibles, offering vessels, chairs, and
more, were completely charred. The room was stinking of burnt
materials even when we entered. Windows were broken, the roof was
burnt, the four walls were completely dark burnt colour, and carpets
had been turned into ash.

The alter (the mass celebrative stone/platform) was damaged by fire:
the photograph of the new saint Sister Alfonsa with a yellow sari and
other decorations that were covering the images, were burnt on the
feet of the altar. Previous day morning there was a celebration of
this first Indian saint in the church, indeed. The plastic that was
covering the reading stand was thrown away.  Overall we could not see
any electric connections burnt.

When we talked to one of the person who was working in the church he
said that around 1 am the previous night he was woken up by the police
saying that there was fire in the church. After reaching the church he
saw fire inside the prayer hall. He with the help of the police doused
off fire the prayer hall but could not able to do anything the room
behind the prayer hall. So he called the fire service. They even tried
to break the glass from outside to pour water. Later the fire service
people came put off by the fire.

We talked with the Police Inspector who was around the church came for
the investigation. They kept on saying the various media people that
it was an evidence of short circuit. The police was lying to the media
people. When we enquired into the matter and tried to know more about
the evidence of short circuit he said, if it is the matter of burning
then action would be taken against the culprit.

But we saw the evidence collected from the site by the investigating
officials took away without sealing the packet and without signature
of any witness. Even if this evidence is produced before the court, as
per the law, the court will not accept it and the miscreants would be
released in lack of 'clear evidence'.

We talked with the electric engineer of BESCOM Mr. Appachu who came to
inspect the electrical circuit of the church. His inspection revealed
that no electric wires were burnt and nor the electric fuse was
diffused and all the MCB's in the church was working properly. It was
1pm and already 12hrs of the incident. When the engineer switched on
the electric supply we saw all fans and electric bulbs were working
perfectly.

So it is a clear evidence of attack by the miscreants in the late
night and the local police covering up the incident is taking shelther
of clear lies. It is known that the local police is very much working
hands in globe with members of Bajarang Dal members in last few
attacks on Christian churches in Manglore, Udupi and other places.

The other day a fact finding committee of 17 human rights activists of
Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka and
Maharastra visited Manglore on 10th and 11th of October to investigate
the attack on Christian institutions and persons in and around the
city. Mr. Debaranjan was part of the same team also. Overall findings
of the team was the attack are a collusive act of the Bajarang Dal on
the one hand and the police led by the Superitendent of Police
Dakshina kannada on the other.

Therefore we demand that,

1. All the incident of attacks on Christian institutions must be
expeditiously and fairly investigated. Since the local police have
shown themselves to be partisan, the investigation must be handed over
to the CBI.

2. The attack on St. Anthony Church at Yadavanahalli must also be
registered as a criminal offence and the miscreants found guilty
should be punished.

3. The State Government must pay full compensation for the damage
caused to the church.

4. Full security should be provided to all the churches in the state
and negligence of the police officials in their duty should be taken
seriously.

Sd/-
Uvaraj M.
Convenor of Bangalore Chapter, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike
Manoranjini
Advocate, Alternative Law Forum

Debaranjan Sarangi
Writer, Orissa.



Click here for Photographs of the church to which miscrant have set
fire
http://www.konkanifoundation.com/ancy/BangaloreChurch.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/14church_101408-1.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/14church_101408-2.jpg
http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/14church_101408-3.jpg

Reply via email to