(November 18, 2010) In central India’s Madhya Pradesh State, the local High Court
has ordered the state government to respond to allegations by the Church that the
police had harassed Christians and authorities have done too little to stop attacks
on them and their institutions. “We have been forced to take recourse from the court
after the state government and the police administration failed to protect us and
our institutions despite repeated pleas,” Father Anand Muttungal, spokesperson of
the Catholic Church told ucanews. The High Court’s made the order Tuesday in response
to a petition claiming that Christians, a minority community in the state, have faced
constant attacks from the right wing Hindu groups. Father Muttungal said that the
police had not investigated the Christians’ complaints even after five to six years
in some cases. Christians have suffered more than 180 sectarian attacks since the
pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People’s Party) government came to power
in the state in December 2003. In most cases, the police had registered First Information
Reports in the name of anonymous persons despite knowing their identities, the priest
said. Father Muttungal added that his petition asked the court to order that the
government take action to curb against anti-Christian violence and protect their institutions.
It also demanded action against those who attacked Christians. The court asked the
state home secretary and the Director General of Police to file their replies in four
weeks.