The Hindu : Front Page : Chief Minister warns trouble-makers following attacks on churches

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Chief Minister warns trouble-makers following attacks on churches

Tamil Nadu Bureau

Miscreants damage a statue of Infant Jesus in a Dharapuram church
Police protection given to major churches

CHENNAI: With another church coming under attack, this time in Dharapuram in Erode district on Friday, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi warned of stringent action against those indulging in such acts of vandalising churches.

In a statement released here, he said information had reached him that in some places in the State churches were attacked after the widespread violence and vandalism in Orissa and Karnataka. He blamed the incidents on those who could not bear with the fact that Tamil Nadu was communally peaceful.

If anyone tried to disturb the communal amity in the State, the government would not sit back and watch their act, he said, asserting that such acts would not be tolerated. Police would take action against such people regardless of their stature, he warned.

The Chief Minister advised police to act swiftly and with purpose in the event of any such incident. The police would not hesitate to take stringent action as per the law against the perpetrators of such acts, he said.

In Dharapuram, miscreants damaged a statue of Infant Jesus at a church on Friday morning.

According to the police the miscreants, yet to be identified, stoned the statue at the Punitha Aloysius Devalayam, around 5.30 a.m.

The incident came to light when a devotee who went to the morning mass saw the damaged statue.

He alerted A. Jerome, assistant parish priest. Fr. Jerome told The Hindu over phone that the act could have been carried out to stop the procession the church members and devotees planned to take out on Sunday condemning violence against the minorities in Orissa and Karnataka.

According to a senior police official, police protection was given to major churches and those in vulnerable areas. “We have deployed plainclothesmen in close vicinity to select churches across the State. Intelligence information is being reviewed at regular intervals.

Special teams formed

Special teams have been formed to apprehend those involved in the attack at Dharapuram,” he said.

Local police were coordinating with the church authorities and quick reaction teams were positioned at vantage points to reach any scene of disturbance within minutes.

But for the churches located in remote areas, police are maintaining a close watch, the official said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page