Mangalore Church Attack: Christians Seek Copies of 'Satyadarshini'
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
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Mangalore, Jun 10: On the second day of the current sitting of Justice B K Somashekhar Commission, which is inquiring into the incidents of attacks on churches during September last in the state, the Christians through their counsel Walter J Maben, sought copies of 'Satyadarshini', a book originally written by Paravastu Sooryanarayana and translated to Kannada, which allegedly was the basis for the attacks on Christian prayer centres. Maben informed the Commission that the said work has been given wide publicity in the newspapers and the electronic media but he has not read it till now. "Even the churches which are affiliated to Karnataka Mission Network do not have any information on this book," he explained.
Commission's legal advisor Hemalata Mahishi said, the Commission has decided not to circulate copies of the book in view of the unpleasant incidents that have already occurred, and invited those interested to have a look at it, to visit the Commission's office in Bangalore and read the same there. Advocate B Ibrahim, representing the witnesses, argued that the documents that are treated as evidences by the Commission become public documents and hence asked the Commission to provide copies of the book to advocates and their clients. Mahishi said, the Commission will be requested to review its earlier decision. As per the request of advocates Nova Bethany, B Ibrahim, M P Noronha and Lancy D'Souza, advocates for witnesses, it was decided to further examine witness Walter Maben after the controversial book is read.
PUCL submits documents, reports: People's Union for Civil Liberties(PUCL) district president P B D'Sa presented himself before the Commission and produced reports prepared by many people and organizations relating to the church attacks along with seven CDs. Dennis D'Souza from Vamajoor, Pritam Pinto from Karambar, Sr Jacinta Cardoza, M S Samaraj and some others appeared before the Commission and recorded their statements. Fr Joshman, administrative officer of Believers Church Modankap said, churches in Modankap in Bantwal, Jodukatte of Puttur and Ganjimutt near Mangalore were attacked. Modankap Church was even torched and the three churches have suffered losses to the extent of about a lac of rupees, he stated.
Joshman also said, the devotees have been afraid and apprehensive of coming to the church to pray, after the said incidents. Mahishi recorded these statements. Lawyers B Ibrahim, High court lawyer Nova Bethany, M P Noronha, Lancy D'Souza etc., represented the witnesses.
Conversion Allegations on Monastery Unfounded: Catholic leader from Attavar Deepak D'Souza adduced evidence before the Commission to the affect that only sisters of the religious order reside in the Adoration Monastery, and they never come out. Therefore, religious conversions can never take place there as alleged by Bajrang Dal state convenor Mahendra Kumar in statements made to newspapers and electronic media, he argued.
D'Souza also said, because of the usage of time-barred teargas shells near Milagres, Sr Parmila lost her eyesight. He added that provocative banners, challenging Christian Missionaries to come out with facts on the murder of Lakshmananada Saraswati a week before the incidents, had been found hung in front of several churches in the city. He said, sensing that they might disturb communal harmony, he had got them removed. He also produced a provocative article that had appeared in a newspaper, before the Commission. Citing a statement made by the then western range IGP A M Prasad that no complaints of religious conversions had been received in the district, he accused Bajrang Dal of misleading the youth.
Never saw anything like that in my life: Dulcin Monteiro (81) from Kulshakhar, explained that she collapsed out of panic and injured her leg after stones were thrown at her house. She wanted the Commission to ensure that such incidents do not recur and everyone is protected. She came to the site of hearing with the help of her daughter Gretta and others, as she has not been able to walk properly.
Houses of Catholics also Attacked: Catholic leader Sushil Noronha stated that houses of Christians located in the neighbourhood of the churches too had been attacked with stones on September 15, 2008. A group of people, who claimed to belong to Bajrang Dal, assaulted a group of Christians near a church, he added. “As the churches were surrounded by policemen, we could not attend to panic calls received at the churches,” he added.
In support of his argument that the attacks on the churches on September 14 and 15 were pre-planned, Noronha cited an incident in which Bhagava flags had been hoisted at a site near Bondel St Lawrence church in the city, where Christians used to pray since the last 30 years. He said, when he confronted a group of Hindus found there, they said this was government property and hence, prayers should not be conducted there. "My complaint on the incident to the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police has not been attended to and the flags remain at the same place," he explained. He also reasoned, that the group could have planted the national flag instead of Bhagava flag and surmised that their main purpose was to disturb religious harmony. He requested the Commission to ensure that the people enjoy freedom of religion, which has been vested with the citizens by the constitution. Noronha expressed the opinion that the people’s representatives and officials have not discharged their duties properly and impartially.