FMPB Missionaries Attacked by VHP Activists
Kolhapur (Maharashtra), SVM News, May 9, 2007: Two missionaries of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB) was severely beaten up by Viswa Hindu Parishat (VHP) and Bajrangdal activists at Ichalkaranji village in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra State in India on Sunday, the 6th of May. They accused the Christian missionaries of converting seven Hindus to Christianity.
FMPB Missionaries Ajit Billawi and Ramesh Kagargole were dragged to the local police station through the streets. At the station the police arrested the missionaries and beaten up in full public view. But did not detain the fundamentalists in a shocking twist to the episode which was recorded by television news channels.
"It's highly shameful. It's as if the Bajrang Dal does just not understand the concept of law and order," said Congress leader Rajiv Shukla, reacting sharply to the incident.
Maharashtra Deputy Home Minister RR Patil said the state government has ordered a “high-level probe” and the “guilty will get the strongest possible punishment.”
Sukhwinder Singh, Kolapur's Superintendent of Police, said a complaint was registered against the people who were involved in the attack on the two priests. Singh said investigations were on to identify the attackers, who were local residents, as also said to be VHP activists.
And with pressure mounting from state and central political leaders, the police began rounding up those who unleashed the atrocities and eleven VHP members have been arrested on Tuesday.
Last week, a pastor in Jaipur was attacked by a right wing group for preaching Christianity. The police felt that time that the presence of media cameras added fuel to the fire.
Few days ago Christoppara mission field of the Salem Voice Ministries also attacked by the RSS and Bajrangdal activists. They tied Evangelist Anthony Dasa's hands and feet and then gagged him.
Rev. Paul Ciniraj, National President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack to the missionaries.
SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
