Christian body terms Justice Somsekhara report 'disappointing'

"The report of Justice Somsekhara Commission probing the attacks on churches and Christians in Karnataka is very disappointing and not acceptable to Christian community across the country," said Anjna Masih, Secretary, Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness for National Council of Churches in India (NCCI).

That the report has been handed over to the chief minister after probing the charges against the state government itself, speaks volumes about the outcome of the inquiry, she said, adding that justice has not been done to the victims of the attacks and Christian community at large.

"Christian community demands strict penal action against the culprits including administrative and state protection force which has failed to take action resulting in communal attack," Masih said.

Justice Somasekhara Commission of Inquiry looking into charges of a series of attacks on churches in parts of Karnataka in 2008 gave a "clean chit" to the ruling BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits yesterday.

"There is no basis to the apprehension of Christian petitioners that politicians, BJP, mainstream Sangh Parivar and state government directly or indirectly are involved in the attacks", the one-man commission said in its final report submitted to the Government.
According to the report submitted to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, circulation of derogatory literature with "insulting attitude" against Hindus and issues of conversion were the main reasons behind the attacks.

The churches were attacked in the districts of Mangalore, Udupi, Chikamagalur, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Bellary and Davangere during September 2008