Christians Report Attacks in Mangalore, Karnataka

(December 29, 2011) Catholic authorities in Mangalore on Wednesday reported two separate attacks on Christian buildings in which a prayer hall was damaged and the crib of a nativity scene was burned. Fr Ivan D’Souza, a parish priest in Karnataka, said he suspected Hindu extremists were behind the burning of a community crib built during a parish-wide holiday competition. He said they were likely trying to “disturb the peace of the place.” Regina Fernandes, who lives near the site of the attack, said that they saw the crib on fire at 3 a.m. and rushed outside and tried to put it out. In the morning they saw kerosene and petrol bottles in the crib. Meanwhile in Haleyangadi, near Mangalore a group of about 12 unidentified people hurled stones and broke window panes at a Protestant prayer hall belonging to Hebron Church. ID Prasanna, the local pastor, said the attackers also damaged three motorbikes parked near the church, and that closed circuit cameras had recorded the attackers fleeing the scene. He added that local police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh had visited the hall and assured him that a complete investigation would be conducted. On Christmas Day Donald Menezes, head pastor of the New Life Fellowship in Karnataka, said about 15 people attacked members of the fellowship while they were dining in a private home. One of the victims sustained a fractured leg in the attack, he said. Tuesday evening culprits entered the campus and desecrated the statue of Mother Theresa on the grounds of Fatima High School, Hubli, near Shimoga, by blackening it. They also wrote abuses against Christians on the statue. After the incident came to light, the Christians of Hubli took out a procession and blocked the road protesting against the incident.