Behind fragile peace fear reigns

Mangalore, September 19 : A fragile peace is prevailing in coastal districts of Mangalore, Uduppi and Chikmangalore where 18 places of worship belonging to various Christian segments were attacked, allegedly by Bajrang Dal activists early this week.

While Mangalore and nearby areas are limping back to normalcy, Christians in the rural districts are still under the grip of fear. Catholics, who had migrated from central Kerala half-a-century back, have become the target of Hindu outfits. On Thursday night, miscreants stoned a grotto at St Xavier’s Church in Moorge under Belthangadi diocese, formed for settlers from Kerala. The altar of another Catholic Church at Ujra, also under the same diocese, was set on fire by unidentified persons on Wednesday morning.

“Christian families under Belthangadi diocese, spread over Mangalore, Kodagu and Uduppi districts, are in the grip of fear. In Many villages, the number of Christian families is less than 50. Hence, our people have become easy targets for miscreants,” said diocese vicar-general Fr Jose Valiyaparambil.

He said Bajrang Dal activists had recently threatened nuns after they shut down a church-run school at Guthaigar, during the nationwide protest against the attack on Christians in Orissa. Christian settlers in the rural district of Mangalore do not want to further provoke Hindu outfits. That is why the Belthangadi diocese had not organised any protest when its church was attacked other day, he said.

Bajrang Dal had tried to wriggle out of the onus of the attack on a chapel at the Catholic convent, saying it was mistaken for a prayer hall of Pentecostal sect New Life.

But Sister Carmelite of the convent disagreed with Bajrang Dal version.