MANGALORE : Justice Somashekhar who is heading an enquiry panel probing into the church attacks in the district, has directed Narayana Reddy, Counsel for the Police Department to submit a list of the police personnel who were on duty at the Kulshekhar Church on the occasion of the attacks on the church last year. The Justice has also sought a comprehensive report in this regard.
This directive from Justice Somashekhar came while he was hearing the deposition by Sr Rekha Lobo of Kulshekhar Church. When Narayana Reddy questioned Sr Rekha why she had lodged a complaint on the assault on her in Kulshekhar church, she retaliated by saying ” To whom should I complain when I was attacked right in front of the police ?” It was at this juncture, Justice Somashekhar sought alist of the police personnel on duty at the church during that time.
Deposing before the Commission, Victor Vas, Vice President of the Church Management Board, said “The Christian brethren had converged at the church to protest against the attack on their community and its religious beliefs and also the harm done to the crucifix and not to indulge in any other disruptive activity. As the Christian sisters were attacked and the crucifix damaged the previous day, the church bell was rung to hold a silent protest.”
When the counsel for the police questioned if they had informed the department in advance of the protest he said ” The Mangalore Diocese itself had complained to the authorities on the incident that took place the previous day. The persons in charge of the Diocese had even informed the authorities on the protest planned throughout the district. Our church too is a part of the Diocese and there was no need to either lodge a separate complaint or to separately intimate on the protest.”
Victor Vas even said so “On September 15 when the incident took place at Kulshekhar church, the Bhajrangdal activists along with the police were part of the attackers. Then the Bhajrangdal leader and advocate Jagadish Shenava in an interview to a TV channel had said ‘Just two minutes is enough for us to bring the Christians under control’. I had even mentioned this in the affidavit.” Interestingly when Victor Vas said this he was being cross examined by advocate Jagadish Shenava himself.
Related news: