from Vinay Pais
for Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SM/NR)
Kundapur, Jun 27: An emergency meeting under the leadership of Fr Antony Lobo, the parish priest of Kundapur church was called to ascertain the views of the Christians in regard to the unwarranted assault on Fr Sylvester Pereira of Katkeri Carmel Ashram near here by miscreants.
Several resolutions were passed at the meeting. One of the resolutions was to submit a report to the human rights commission requesting them to hold a comprehensive enquiry and bring the culprits to book. Another was to request the concerned police officials to go into the allegations impartially. The other resolutions were to identify the real culprits and hold an identification parade. To make a committee of the leaders of all regions and stage a big public rally to press for early action in the matter. Finally a resolution was made to form a committee of seven members under the leadership of Edwin Crasta with regard to proceeding legally in the alleged matter.
Among the sympathizers against this assault incident were Gopal Poojary MLA of Byndoor, Vinaya Kumar Sorake ex- MP, Pratapchandra Shetty the member of the legislative council and the vice-president of KPCC, Vasant Salian ex-minister and other leaders like MA Gafoor, Shamala Bhandary, Veronica Cornelio, Ivan D’ Souza who visited the injured and consoled them.
In the evening the deputy commissioner of the district the police chief and the police officials were urged to take quick action in the alleged matter and also take recourse to appropriate legal action against the culprits.
The gist of the appeal is as follows:
Kundapur deanery which is situated in Udupi district consists of eleven parishes and two religious houses among which the Carmel Ashram at Katkere Koteshwara is one. Fr Sylvester, the head of the Carmel Ashram resided with a priest and eight other brothers who are the aspirants to priesthood.
This being the case, on Monday June 25 morning Fr Sylvester along with two other brothers and their cook who were all suffering from high fever, went to the locally-situated Surgeons Hospital for treatment with a neighbour Valerian D’Silva. When all them were being treated by the doctor, 3-4 local leaders of Hindu fundamental organizations led by one Ramanna Shetty assaulted Fr Sylvester severely. He was dragged outside the Hospital, made to lie on the floor and kicked on the chest and other body parts as a result he fainted. The assailants then allegedly tried to kill him.
People gathered on the spot. The assailants then led by Ramanna Shetty took all the five victims to Kundapur police station and tried to file a false case against them, stating that they were caught while converting people into their religious sect.
After this all the four victims were not allowed to contact their community members by the police. Though they were suffering from fever, they were not allowed to take any medicine nor given proper food.
However the Kundapur circle inspector Valentine D’Souza had already received information about the assault. So he made the assailants confess to their crime and later filed a case against them which was very lenient compared to the gravity of their crime. All the four were later shifted to the Kundapur Government Hospital and from there to Chinmaya Hospital for further treatment. Fr Sylvester was admitted to the ICU and is still under observation.
The Christian Community of Kundapur deanery feels that they are not given proper protection against the organized and pre-planned culprits in the society. Also, the Christian Community, along with their leaders taking into account the gravity of this incident, claim that the culprits should be booked under Sec. 307 of the IPC and stringent action has to be taken against the culprits and justice should be done to their peace loving community.
Earlier News: