Anti-Christian attacks: PMO asks for report on actions taken

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has asked for an immediate report on actions taken in the gang rape of a nun in West Bengal and the razing of an under-construction church in Hisar. On Tuesday morning, the PMO tweeted, “PM is deeply concerned about the incidents in Hisar, Haryana and Nadia, West Bengal. PMO has asked for an immediate report on facts & action taken regarding the incidents in Haryana & West Bengal.”

A 71-year-old nun was allegedly gangraped by dacoits in West Bengal’s Nadia district in the early hours on Saturday after which a CID probe was ordered into the incident. In another incident, an under-construction church in Kaimri village near Hisar, Haryana, was vandalised by a group and the cross replaced with an idol of Hanuman. Haryana Police on Tuesday arrested the main accused in the vandalisation of the church.

Protests were held in Christian schools in many cities, urging the government to protect educational institutions. Head of Faridabad diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholics, Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara said the government needs to do much more to protect churches. “This is for the first time there have been so many attacks on catholic institutes.”

He was however optimistic about the government’s efforts to provide security to churches, install cameras. “They must take strict action against anti-church miscreants. Only then the community will feel safe here.” “The BJP government and the Sangh Parivar need to create an environment where we feel safe. That has not happened till now,” said Dominic Emmanuel of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese.