Catholics protest attack on a Church school

(Aug.18,2010) About 60 people attacked a Catholic school in the central Indian Madhya Pradesh state on Wednesday morning, destroying furniture, computers, windows and door, said an eye witness. The slogan-shouting mob barged into St. Pius Higher Secondary School and vandalized the office in the administrative block, said Fr.Biju Thiruthanathil. He said the attackers are suspected to be members of the student wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), regarded as the political arm of pro-Hindu groups.
Fr: Thiruthanathil, who works in the school, said the attackers arrived before school started and closed the gates, preventing students from entering. The attack is believed to have been instigated by some staff members who were demanding a pay hike.
Khandwa diocese’s education secretary Fr.Saji V. Kurian said salaries had recently been increased, but some staff members had sought a further rise. “We had agreed to consider it but wanted some time, as the bishop was out of country. We are really shocked over the development,” Fr. Kurian added.
The attackers left when police arrived soon after the school management called for help. However, no one has been arrested yet. Church leaders have noted that attacks on Christians increased after the BJP came to power in December 2003. Christians have experienced a total of 184 attacks, including this latest one.