Church attack: 11 bishops fail to meet chief minister

KSHRC Chairman visits spot, flays govt for its failure to curb incident

However, their plans to meet the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to submit a memorandum did not materialise on Friday.

“Due to the ongoing legislature session, the ministers were indisposed for a meeting with the bishops,” said an official from the Archbishop’s office. The St Francis De Sales Parish authorities have said that there is no tension prevailing in the area.
However, the Bangalore Rural Police are taking no chances and continued   tight security even on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Bangalore Rural District Superintendent of Police Mahesh refused to divulge any details on the investigation.

Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) Chairman S R Nayak visited the St Francis De Sales Church on Hosur Road, and criticised failure of the intelligence wing. “The act of vandalism on the St Francis de Sales Church has happened right ‘under the nose’ of the government,” said Nayak.

It is learnt that the KSHRC chairman has also spoken against the State government terming the incident as ‘minor’ and has assured the church authorities that he will direct the government to take stern and immediate action against the culprits.

Nayak has currently asked the local police to provide a detailed report on the incident.
Governor H R Bhardwaj paid a visit to the St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore and met the 11 Bishops who had gathered for their annual regional council meeting. However, it is said that the visit was more of a courtesy call and was not in the light of the church vandalism.
After visiting the church, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy termed the incident as inhuman and alleged that such incidents are frequently taking place after the BJP assumed power in the State.

KPCC President Deshapande said that the failure of the Home Minister to visit the church indicates that the government lacks trust on minority community people.

‘Deliberate act’
After a careful examination of the church, the B K Somashekhar Commission, constituted to look into the incidents involving attacks on churches, termed the incident as ‘deliberately carried out act’.

He discussed the matter with the police and directed them to submit a report about the action taken by the police soon.
He also directed the administrative board of the church to give a detailed report about the incident.