The Hindu : Kerala News : Attack on nuns: Crime Branch joins police in probe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Attack on nuns: Crime Branch joins police in probe

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE, SEPT. 28. The Crime Branch sleuths today joined the local police in investigating the attack on nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Charity on September 25.

Though no arrests have been made even three days after the attack, the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, who was in the city today disclosed that 13 persons suspected to be involved in the incident had been identified.

Chandy visits colony

"They would be brought to book,'' the Chief Minister told mediamen at the Government Guest House after he visited the Mambuzhakkad Mithal Colony, near Pantheerankavu here, where the incident occurred.

The Chief Minister made it quite clear that he was quite satisfied with the progress of the investigation. The Crime Branch was being associated with the probe only because the resources of the local police were fully stretched right now because of the agitations launched in the wake of the incident.

Mr. Chandy also visited Sneha Bhavan and met the nuns who were the target of the attack.

NMC probe

Also in the city to probe the incident today was V. V. Augustine, Member of the National Minorities Commission (NCM). After visiting the scene of the attack and talking to members of the colony where the Missionaries of Charity were doing relief work among the poor, Mr. Augustine said he was convinced that the nuns were not engaged in conversion-related activities.

He was also in favour of an investigation by an independent agency.

However, at his press conference, the Chief Minister dismissed the suggestion, saying that the Crime Branch and the local police would be able to book the culprits.

Mr. Augustine also visited Sneha Bhavan to meet the nuns who were attacked.

Day of protests

It was a day of demonstrations in the city today as Hindu organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the pro- CPI(M) Janadhipathya Mahila Association registered their protests to highlight their demands.

The RSS-led demonstration was to press for arrest of Bernard, a Kenyan national who was seen at the scene of the attack. He left the State soon after the incident.The Hindu Aikya Vedi general convener, Kummanam Rajasekharan, alleged at a press conference here today that the nuns were engaged in conversion activities. The RSS State joint secretary, Gopalankutty Master, also handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister at the Government Guest House.

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