By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service
INDIA (ANS)- Despite a promise of security from the Chief Minister of the Government of Karnataka, Christians are being attacked by Hindu radicals, and their churches vandalized.
According to a story on www.persecution.in, the violence has also spread to the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
According to the web site, a church was attacked and burned in Yelahanka New Town, Bangalore, at about 10.30 p.m. on Sept. 26.
The incident occurred after a prayer meeting. A small number of Hindu radicals attacked Gospel Bethel Assembly of God Church, doused the facility with kerosene and burned Bibles, hymn books and the pulpit.
Neighbors responded quickly and managed to douse the blaze.
The story reported that a complaint was filed the following morning at Yelahanka New Town police station.
In another incident on the same day, Hindu radicals broke open the glass of Our Lady’s Grotto at the Sacred Heart Church at Shambur in Bantwal Taluk late Friday night
According to www.persecution.in, two attacks on churches took place in Tamil Nadu. Tarteted were St. Xavier’s Church in Nagercoil and St. Aloysius Church in Erode.
In Erode, Dharapuram town, Western Tamil Nadu, a church was vandalized by radicals in the early morning hours of Sept 26. The story said the front part of the church was destroyed.
In addition, a statue of the infant Jesus kept in the damaged area of the church sustained minor damages. A report was filed, but no arrests had been made at the time of writing.
The story also reported that a similar incident was reported from Kanniykumari District, where vandals damaged a statue of the Virgin Mary in St. Xavier’s Church in Nagercoil
Also according to www.persecution.in, in Kerala State, a church was reportedly attacked and its windows broken near Alleppey on Sept 24.
