New Delhi: Members of right-wing groups attacked Christians in Karnataka’s Kolar district on Saturday (December 11), including setting religious books on fire.
Representatives of Christian groups were preaching from door to door in Srinivasapura and distributing booklets when the attack occurred. The police, according to NDTV, said Christians had been “warned against” distributing booklets. They added that since there is no complaint, no FIR has been filed. “We have warned the Christian community to not create any communal disharmony by going door-to-door and preaching. Both parties, the right wing and the Christian community members have settled the matter amicably,” an officer told the channel.
According to the Indian Express, while members of the Christian groups had met the police and spoken to them after the incident, no complaint was registered against the right-wing mob.
While the attackers had alleged “forced conversion” by the Christians, the group maintained that they were only distributing booklets and not forcing anyone into anything.
On the same day, another anti-Christian attack took place in Belagavi, with a priest being chased by a man carrying a machete, Hindustan Times reported. In a viral video, the machete-carrying man can be seen chasing Father Francis D’Souza, parish priest of St Joseph Worker Church on Bauxite Road. The man follows the priest for some time before leaving.
Karnataka has seen a string of attacks against Christian groups in recent day. As reported, instead of providing security or going after the perpetrators, the police have told the Christian community in Belagavi to avoid prayer meets if they wish to remain safe.
A recent fact-finding report by civil society organisation also found that in Dakshina Kannada alone, at least 71 instances of communal discord, all attracting criminal charges, took place in the eight-month period starting January this year.