Former SP speaks of Bajrang Dal role in church attacks

Former SP speaks of Bajrang Dal role in church attacks

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, August 21: The former Superintendent of Police Dakshina Kannada district N. Satheesh Kumar has testified to the role of Bajrang Dal activists in some of the attacks on churches in Mangalore in his deposition before B.K. Somasekhara Commission of Inquiry probing attacks in 2008.

This gains significance in the light of an earlier deposition by the former Bajrang Dal leader Mahendra Kumar in which he vehemently denied any role in the attacks.

In response to questions on the attack on Adoration Monastery on September 14, 2008, Mr. Satheesh Kumar said that the attacks were done by pro-Hindus which might include Bajrang Dal, Sri Rama Sene and other organisations.

“As per the complaints and initial investigations, it was Bajrang Dal activists who were responsible for such attacks,” he said.

Mr. Satheesh Kumar said that a group of 10 to 15 people had attacked Adoration Church and “such persons may belong to Bajrang Dal.”

Statements

In contrast to statements by Mr. Mahendra Kumar in which he denied giving media interviews owning up his role in the attacks, Mr. Satish Kumar said that he was aware that Mr. Mahendra Kumar made statements in television and newspapers that he was responsible for such attacks.

‘No complaints’

Mr. Satheesh Kumar said that Bajrang Dal activists arrested after the attack on Adoration Monastery had said during investigation that the attack was carried out because of conversions.

He said that there were conversions in the district, but there were no formal complaints.

He further said that conversions were “from Christianity to Hinduism, Hinduism to Christianity, Islam to Christianity or to Hinduism.”

Visit to church

Answering questions on his visit to Bantwal church, Mr. Satheesh Kumar said that the area is sensitive and there had been incidents earlier in which Bajrang Dal activists were involved in Hindu-Muslim conflicts, in the presence of the former Minister Nagaraj Shetty.

Mr. Satheesh Kumar denied that the police had indulged in any excesses in while controlling law and order situation after church attacks on September 14 and 1 in 2008.

Thehindu