Miscreants Attack Church Near Nagpur Maharastra India

MISCREANTS ATTACK CHURCH NEAR NAGPUR

Saoner: Miscreants suspected to be from Hindu radical outfits attacked a 100 year -old Church in saoner,about 40 Km from
Nagpur in Maharastra during morning mass on sunday.Two women worshippers were injured as fanatics alegedly from Vishwa Hindu parishad
( VHP) and Bajrang Dal ,stormed the Douglas Memorial Church at 10.40 am chanting "Jai shree Ram" "Jai bajrang". Both VHP and and Bajrang Dal deny any role
in the attack, But said it was done by " Hindus angry over religious conversion " in the area.Even children present in the Church were intimidated by the attackers , who tore up several holy books including Bible,ransacked furniture , broke musical instrument
and damaged the altar. The flower vases in side the Church were kicked around by the intruders.Chanting " Har Har Mahadev" they shattered windows panes of a bus-belonging to aschool run the church---parked on the campus as they left.The St John's Mission High
School and vicarage, where the priest lives with his family, were left untouched .The group of 20-25 attackers were armed with sticks, sharp weapens like swords and swordsticks, and possibly had firearmes too.
Saoner police said 10 minutes before the attack, some persons claiming to be from VHP's Ramtek unit came to the police station and handed over an application demanding action againstconversions in Saoner. They warned of a "vigorous movement"
against the Church"s action of allegedly targetting economically weaker sections for converting them in to christianity.Priest Mark Shakharpekar of Douglas Memorial Church said the allegations were "baseless" .
Nagpur (rural) SP C.H. Wakade said the men headed straight to the Church from the police station."The police officers had accepted the complaint and assured them that they looked into the issue of conversions by unfair means. Ten minute later, the police station received
information about attacke on the Church. It seems that the moves were planned " he said . Special squads have been formed to round up the cullprits at the earliest, he added . By afternoon , Wakade claimed that one of the VHP activists, whose name was mentioned in the complaint, was taken into custody
Shakharpekar had just began his sermon when the attack began. It triggered panic among the devotees. The Church hardly 1kmfrom the police station. The priest wife Pushpa Shakarpekar ,who is in a shock after the attack, tried to reason with the assailants but to no avail.
The other women too protested.A sharp trident - like weapon was hurled at the priest. How ever, he escaped unhurt.One of the attackers told him that "next time it will be worse". Two worshippers , Aruna Telkhande and Preeti Dongre ,received minor injuries.
The late 19th centuary Church comes under the Church of Scotland Missions and is affiliated to United Church of Northern India.

( Source From "THE TIMES OF INDIA" Pune news Paper monday April 20, 2009.Front page news)