Sunday, May 06, 2007

Marthoma Church and believers attacked in Karnataka

Kolar (Karnataka), SVM News, May 7, 2007: Newly dedicated Narasapur Marthoma Church in Kolar District (Hoskote Mission)was attacked by suspected Hindu militants on 6th of May in Karnataka State in India.
A mob of around 50 people arrived the church with saffron flags and headbands right after the Sunday worshipping service. They were abusing slogans against Christians and demanded to close down the Church permanently.
The attackers destroyed the electrical circuits of the church.
The militants asked the believers to hand over their evangelists named Jeyaraj and James to be finished up. Somebody said that they left to conduct worship service in another mission church at Baelemananahalli. Immediately the radicals rushed to the Baelemananahalli church by using vehicles.
But they could not find the evangelists at Baelemananahalli mission church. So they attacked the believers and several were beaten up including an woman named Leelamony. Govindappa, Santhosh and Philip were also injured by the attack.
The attackers happened to see two local christian youngsters, doubted as evangelists Jeyaraj and James and beaten them severly.
And also the militants ordered to vacate the tenants within 10 days and hand over the evangelists to them.
A complaint have been lodged to the Venkal Police Station. Rev. Sabu Thomas is the new vicar of the Narasapur Marthoma Church.
Just three months ago Santhosh of Baelemananahalli mission was severely by the radicals. That was also registered as a case at Venkal Police Station.
Hoskote Mission was established by the Marthoma Syrian Church of Malabar on 1946. Six congregations have been developed in this mission.
Rev. Paul Ciniraj, National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack at the Narasapur Marthoma Church. He asked the Central and State Governments to take quick action
“India is a great democratic and secular country. Absolutely it is a shame for the social and cultural leaders in India for keeping silence when the minorities and Dalits are being persecuted. They must open their mouth and react against innocent persecutions", Paul Ciniraj said.
"Those who persecute dalits, minorities and christians are public nuisance. They should be considered as the enemies of the nation", Ciniraj added.
"Persecution towards minorities and dalits, particularly Christian persecution is increasing widely throughout India. Pastors, missionaries, evangelists and believers being murdered, beaten and jailed. Churches are vandalized. Authorities are often silent or protect the attackers. Hearing these shocked news, many of our leaders express their sympathy but next they are simply forgetting it. It is not good. We must react. We must strike against the persecution. It is our responsibility to make sure that the life and property of each and every citizens are safe and secure", Paul Ciniraj said.
SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
News items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html

posted by Salem Voice @ 11:41 PM