Panel doesn't spare govt

Somasekara Commission criticises Hindu groups for church attacks

The 1000-page report, which closely examined the attacks on 57 prayer halls and churches in many districts in 2008, has been critical of certain district administrations as well as the Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagaran Vedike.

Only parts of the report, submitted by Justice Somasekara to Chief Minister Yeddyurappa on Friday, have been released to the press.

However, a close examination reveals that the commission’s assessment of each district is different. It has even named those involved in the attacks in many cases. More than Dakshina Kannada district, which is home to the maximum number of churches in the state, some of the ghastly attacks on prayer halls and churches had taken place in Davangere without provocation, states the report. 

Attacked ones

Ten churches and prayer halls—Anagodu Church, DHM Prathana Mandira and Eternal Life Church (both at Nittuvalli), Full Gospel Assembly (Harapanahalli), Jajjali Village Church (Channagiri), Jesus Prayer Hall (Shivakumar Layout), Praishuddha Prathanalaya (Davangere), Parivarthana Prathana Mandira (Harapanahalli), Resurrection God's Ministries Trust (Harihara) and Yesu Krupalaya (Bada)—were attacked in the district.

With the exception of the Harapanahalli  prayer hall, the commission has squarely blamed the officials, local GP members and Hindu outfits for the rest of the attacks.

The report has said people belonging to Hindu Jagarana Vedike were responsible for the church attack. The Vedike has no material evidence for its existence and is believed to be a self-styled attitudinal group.

Rajashekar, D Basavaraj Gubbi, Deepak Kanade, Manikanta, Manjunath Shetty, Raghavendra, Prakash, Mukundappa along with Sardar Sevalal Swamiji and other members of the Vedike were found responsible for the attacks.

The district administration revenue authorities, including the DC and his subordinates and corporation authorities, especially the commissioner, acted unreasonably, cruelly and illegally. The SP and his men did their best to deal with the matter, the report revealed.