Christian schools close in protest

(February 20, 2010) Some Christian schools in a central Indian town closed Friday February 19 to protest the ransacking of a Protestant school. About 10 unidentified people barged into the campus of Christ Church Higher Secondary School in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh on Thursday and damaged its offices. The school closed today along with four other Christian schools in the neighbourhood. Pradeep Kumar Pujari, the school administrator, told UCA News the intruders forced their way to the principal’s office and destroyed the computer and furniture. The school belongs to the Church of North India. They tried to manhandle male teachers, but ran away when other school staff rushed to the office, Pujari said. The intruders carried stones and baseball bats. Principal L. Mathew said the cause for the attack was the school’s refusal to readmit three 12th grade students who were dismissed for “gross indiscipline” on Oct. 27. The students had burst fire crackers in their classroom. CNI Bishop P.C. Singh of Jabalpur condemned the attack as a heinous one and appealed to the government to arrest the culprits and establish the rule of law.