The Hindu : Karnataka / Udupi News : Group storms prayer hall, damages equipment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Udupi

Group storms prayer hall, damages equipment

By Our Staff Correspondent

UDUPI, SEPT. 12. A group of persons, reportedly having links with the Sangh Parivar, forcibly entered the New Life Fellowship prayer hall in the city and allegedly manhandled some of the persons and damaged equipments on Sunday.

According to the Udupi Town Police, a group of 15-20 persons, under the leadership of one Jitesh, allegedly entered the New Life Fellowship prayer hall at the Second Floor of the Krishna Kripa Complex near the Service Bus Stand forcibly and went on a rampage.

They allegedly manhandled the persons in the prayer hall and smashed equipments such as chairs, tables and the music system, whose value has been estimated at Rs. 2 lakhs. A complaint in this regard has been lodged by T.G. Verghese of New Life Fellowship. The police said that miscreants were absconding and further investigations were on.

Hunt on

The Superintendent of Police, S. Murugan, said on Sunday that all efforts were being made to arrest the miscreants involved in the attack on the New Life Fellowship prayer hall.

He told The Hindu that a group of around 10 to 15 persons had forcibly entered the hall and assaulted the pastor and some of the congregation there.

The group subsequently escaped from the hall. The police near the Service Bus Stand, where the hall is situated, gave a chase, but the miscreants managed to escape.

He said the attack was an incident perpetrated by rowdy elements and that it would not lead to further incidents. The miscreants would be dealt with as per the law.

"The incident should not be blown out of proportion," Mr. Murugan said.

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