131 cases of Christian persecution in 2012: report
The report states that Karnataka topped the list with 37 attacks against Christians.
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The annual 'Christian Persecution Report' is issued by Richard Howell of the Delhi-based Evangelical Fellowship of India.
It was released by Abraham Mathai, president of Indian Christian Voice, in Mumbai yesterday.
The report states that Karnataka topped the list with 37 attacks followed by Chhattisgarh (21), Madhya Pradesh (18) and Maharashtra (5).
"Hate crimes against tribal Christians are compounded by police apathy. If the police could drive out gangsters like Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan, can they not stop these Hindu fanatics?" Mathai said.
The program was also attended by Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi.
Tribals from Jawhar, Mokhada and Wada in Thane, Maharashtra, were also invited to give testimony of attacks in the state.
However, on questioning, the officers at Jawhar and Mokhada police stations refuted allegations of complicity.
"In 2012 not one complaint of violence on Christians was received at Jawhar, which encompasses 52 gram panchayats. These allegations are part of baseless propaganda," an official said.
The Mokhada police said an offence was registered against a dalit faith healer who claimed to pray and cure dreaded diseases with sips of mineral water.
"He was a dalit, not a Christian, and was booked under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. We also registered a case against the villagers who assaulted him after being cheated. No one is allowed to take the law in their hands," an officer said.
John Dayal of the All India Christian Council, who helped compile the report, said incidents of violence were down from 140 in 2011, but cautioned that "many incidents go unreported".
"This dip may not necessarily mean that the incidence has reduced," he added.
The Catholic Secular Forum also said Hindus disrupted a prayer meeting of 600 people in Sawantwadi on January 11.
Source: times of india
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