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