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Mangalore march hammers Somasekara panel report

Hand over church attack cases to CBI, say Christian leaders
Last Updated 20 February 2011, 16:11 IST
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They also urged the government to hand over the investigation of church attack cases of September 14 and 15, 2008 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Addressing the gathering at the Nehru Maidan, Mangalore Diocese Bishop, Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, alleged that the Commission was in no way different from other government appointed commissions.

“To know the truth, we demand that the investigation into the incidents of attacks on churches should be handed over to the CBI. We also demand that the State Government should withdraw all cases registered against Christians in connection with the church attacks across the State,” the Bishop urged.

“The Commission has mentioned in its report that as many as 57 churches and other places of worship belonging to Christians in 10 districts were attacked in the subsequent months of September 2008. In fact, more than 100 places of worship were attacked during the period. Our religious sentiments were hurt as the Crucifix was broken and the Holy Communion was desecrated,” lamented Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.

“Don’t we have the right to know who attacked the places of worship,” the Bishop asked.

Rejection of report

“The Commission was constituted to probe the church attack cases and to tell us who carried out the attacks. However, it has failed to identify the people and organisations that were responsible for the attacks,” said D’Souza.

“Hence, we reject its report,” he added.

Karnataka Mission Network President Walter J Maben alleged that the attacks on churches and other places of worship were part of a well-planned conspiracy.

Evidences sidelined

“Statements of the eyewitnesses and material evidences including video compact discs and media reports would have been sufficient for the Commission to ascertain that the Sangh Parivar was behind the attacks,” he added.

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(Published 20 February 2011, 16:10 IST)

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