Mangalore returns to normalcy

Mangalore, Sep 17: Karnataka's coastal city, Mangalore is returning to normalcy as educational institutions, shops were open and public transport was back on roads on Wednesday, Sep 17 after attacks on churches and protests by the Christian Community. "The situation is normal. All schools, colleges and shops are open. Public transport vehicles which were off the roads for the last three days (Sunday, Sep 14, Monday, Sep 15 Tuesday, Sep 16) are plying as usual. We are investigating reports of the prayer hall in Dakshina Kannada district that was damaged on Tuesday, Sep 16 night," a senior police official said.

Christians in Mangalore, on Wednesday, Sep 17 morning met a team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) headed by chairperson Girija Vyas as well as former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular President H D Deve Gowda.

State Home Minister V S Acharya and senior officials who accompanied the NCW team were mobbed by a group of Christian women seeking action against people who attacked churches and prayer halls in Mangalore and other parts of the state on Sunday, Sep 14.

At least 10 churches and prayer halls in Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring districts of Udupi and Chikkamagalur were reportedly damaged by rightwing Hindu groups protesting alleged conversion activities by some Christian groups.

The state government has begun collecting information on the activities of New Life Fellowship, a Protestant group, which, the Hindu groups allege has been distributing literature insulting Hindu gods and indulging in conversion activities.

"We are gathering information on its activities," J Krishna Plaemar, state minister in charge of Dakshina Kannada district, said on Tuesday.

The New Life Fellowship has been functioning in Karnataka for the last 25 years and its leaders have denied that the group is indulging in any conversion activities.

OneIndia News