Some attacks on churches aimed at defaming govt: Panel

As many as 57 churches and prayers halls were attacked in nine districts in the State in 2008.
Referring to St Mary’s Church in Kolar, the Commission ruled out the involvement of any Hindu organisation. The allegations of conversion are true, but they were not the ground for the attack. It was a deliberate attempt by some local group or political force to create evidence to link the attack to other such incidents involving churches, and thereby demoralise or demolish the ruling BJP government.

On the attack on St James Church at Mariyannapalya in Bangalore, the Commission confirmed there was indeed an attack. But it said attempts by Christians to convert people in the area, and resistance by the members of Adi Kaveri Trust of Chittiappa and local Hindus were the reasons for the incident.

The Church personnel did not cooperate with the police in preventing the attack. There appears to be illegal acquisition of public property by both the Church personnel and the Chittiappa group, which requires a serious inquiry, the report said.

Legal steps sought

The government and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike should take legal steps to remove all encroachments and illegal planting of Christian Crosses, besides illegal constructions in the Kalvari Betta area, the Commission recommended.

In case of the Holy Name of Jesus Church at Rajarajeshwarinagar, the report said the attack was sporadic -- carried out by either a passerby or by some miscreants to create evidence against the ruling party.

There are indications of corruption in the City Corporation, the report said. The commissioner should uniformly regularise any irregularity in licensing, etc, regarding constructions, especially of this church, subject to rules, the report added.

A make-believe attempt

In the case of St Anthony New Church, Yedanahalli, the report said the attack was a make-believe aimed at linking it other similar incidents.

The main culprits appear to be Father Santhosh, David and his men and two police constables, B M Nagaraj and B P Nagendra Kumar. The CoD police failed in their investigation to locate the culprits, the report said.

Somasekara defends his report

Bangalore, dhns: The Justice B K Somasekara Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday said its final report on the church attacks was prepared after a detailed and transparent inquiry but was misinterpreted by a few.

Justice Somasekara, in a written clarification, stated there was no need for  Christain petitioners to be apprehensive about the direct or indirect involvement of politicians, the BJP, the Sangh Pariwar and the State government in the attacks.

Every bit of inference and findings of the report was based on evidence and elaborate discussion of all contentions presented before the Commission. The final report should be read in continuation of the interim report submitted to the government in February last, the inquiry panel chief said.

He said there was no lapse on the part of the Commission and any fair comments were welcome. “But all such expressions by anybody shall be subject to legal consequences under Section 10A (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Act. Ignorance of the law is no excuse; and this will apply to all,” he said.