2010-11-18 14:10:02

Court demands answers over Christian attacks


(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.







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