In India, Mysore Bishop leads massive rally against fundamentalists

(15 Dec. 2006) : More than 15,000 members representing several Christian, Hindu and Muslim organisations marched through the main roads of Karnataka state's City of Palaces, Mysore, on Wednesday December 13. They were protesting against the attack on Avila Convent and disfiguring of an Infant Jesus statue on November 30, by a group allegedly belonging to the Hindu group Bajrang Dal.

The massive rally was led by Bishop Thomas Vazhapilly of Mysore, who said that an "unidentified man, who is believed to have been distributing Christian literature, was roughed up by a mob of over 50 people claiming to be Bajrang Dal activists. The mob then stormed into the Avila Convent saying that the man was distributing literature on the school campus. They went on a wild spree and attacked the headmistress alleging that she was indulging in conversions."

The Bishop pointed out that repeated phone calls to the local police station was of no avail. They simply slammed down the phone if it was from the Avila Convent, he said. Christian MLA Ivan Nigli and several political parties supported the protest. People had come from Kodagu, Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts for the rally. Schools in the diocese were shut down in protest.