SECUNDERABAD, India — Attacks on Christians in February in Punjab state following protests against banners depicting Jesus drinking and smoking were eerily similar to the anti-Christian violence in Orissa state in 2007 and 2008, according to a fact-finding mission released March 2 by the All India Christian Council.
John Dayal, a member of the fact-finding mission, pointed out that factors such as the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party being part of the ruling coalition, police inaction, coordination of attacks and support of the local merchant community for Hindu nationalist groups in the anti-Christian attacks in Punjab reminded him of mayhem in Orissa’s Kandhamal district.
“The strategy of the assailants in Punjab was eerily reminiscent of what was practiced and perfected against churches in Orissa,” Dayal said.
Supporters of the Hindu extremist Sangh Parivar organizations burned the 1865-built Church of the Epiphany belonging to the Church of North India (CNI) denomination Feb. 20.
They also tried to destroy a nearby Salvation Army church and attacked its pastor, Gurnam Singh, leaving him seriously injured.
“Even as the larger group of attackers focused on burning the CNI church, a group of men armed with sticks and rods came to the house of the CNI deacon,” the report notes.
“The deacon, Victor Gill, and his wife, Parveen, hid themselves under the bed. The assailants damaged the doors, tried to enter the room forcibly and told the couple they would be burnt alive if they did not come out.”
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