Bajrang Dal cadre attacks churches in Karnataka

BANGALORE: Over a dozen churches and prayer halls of different Christian sects were subjected to simultaneous attacks by Bajrang Dal activists in the three districts of Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur on Sunday morning, injuring at least half a dozen people including three policemen.

While most churches or prayer halls belonged to sects, New Life or Jehovah���s Witnesses, whose prayer services were disrupted by lathi-wielding and saffron shawl wearing Bajrang Dal activists, a chapel belonging to a convent of cloistered nuns of the Catholic community near Milagres church in Hampankatta in the heart of Mangalore was also subjected to attacks, police reports said.

Attackers destroyed statues of Jesus Christ and damaged furniture as also Bibles and other religious literature. Bajrang Dal activists were protesting against alleged conversion and also publication of literature derogatory to Hindus.

According to police reports, three churches and prayer halls in Hampankatta, Falnir and Kankanady were targets of attackers. Churches in Kulur, Thokkottu, Kodikal, near Mangalore, and Madyanthar in Belthangadi taluk, Udupi, Karkala, Shiroor and Kundapur as also churches and prayer halls in Makkikoppa near Jayapura in Koppa taluk, Makodu in Narasimharajapura taluk, Singatagere in Kadur taluk and also in Jayapura in Chikmagalur district were vandalised, police said.

7 Bajrang Dal activities were arrested.