More churches attacked, group clash rock port city

Mangalore, Sept 15 (UNI) Police in large numbers struggled to control the situation in the city that witnessed two more churches being attacked and group clashes erupt in some areas of this port city today.

Two prayer halls at Bejai and jail road was attacked by miscreants while police extensively used the baton to scatter the stone pelting crowds.

When people came out to protest against yesterdays attacks on nine churches in Daxina Kannada, Udupi and Chickmagalur districtrs.

some miscreants threw bottles at the group that resulted in stone pelting from the other side.

Police used baton charge in Thokkottui, Kulashekar and B C Road where large number of Christians gathered in the morning. Police said situation was slowly returning to normalcy.

Meanwhile, Bishop of Mangalore Dr. Aloysius D'Souza speaking at a press conference here today clarified that no cases of conversion had been come to light in any of 158 churches coming under Mangalore diocese.

He urged that the district administration to take stringent action against the culprits responsible for yesterday attacks and put its maximum efforts in maintaining peace in the district.

"We don't want any assurance, the police should act swiftly and arrest the culprits. They have not acted in a proper manner," he said.

Meanwhile Karnataka Minister for ports Krishna Palemar today assured the people of the city that proper protection would be provided to all churches and institutions. The damages caused during the attack would be suitably compensated.

He claimed that yesterday's incidents was the handiwork of miscreants and Sangh parivar was not involved in the incidents.

Energy minister K S Ishwarappa today said the state government would not spare anyone who indulged in violence even if they were Bajrangdal activists.

At the same time the government would also not allow forceful religious conversions, he added.

UNI MA-MV RS TS1816