Karnataka   

Abandoned prayer hall destroyed by fire

CHAMARAJANAGAR: An abandoned and thatched Christian prayer hall at Somarwarpet, in Karinanjanapura village road on the outskirts of Chamarajanagar town was burned down on Sunday night.

Patrich, the pastor of the abandoned prayer hall told The Hindu that the hall was built with coconut leaves one and half years ago. He said nearly 50 people attended prayer there every Sunday.

But the hall was abandoned 20 days ago following the direction of East Police station Sub-Inspector, who told them that it was better to conduct prayers in town because of security reasons.

The priest added that they had planned to construct a permanent building just behind the thatched hut. Mr. Patrich went on to say that it was difficult to predict whether miscreants had been involved in the act or whether it was an accident. A complaint lodged at the East Police was a case of fire accident. Mr. Patrich said the Gospet Trust had purchased four guntas of land from a farmer for the purpose of constructing a permanent church. The process of conversion of the land for the purpose of constructing a religious building was under progress. The papers had been submitted to the Chamarajanagar taluk Tahasildar. The rural police inspector, Pratap Reddy, and East Police Sub-Inspector Manjunath visited the spot. The police have seized the burnt poles and burnt poster frames; playing cards; a burnt plastic water container; and some publicity books published by the Book of Hope International and printed at Tej-Quebecor Printing Limited, Gurgaon, which covers the teachings of Christianity.

The police said that the prayer hall was not legally registered and they had told the pastor to change the venue of the prayer hall and transport the publicity materials to a secure place following the attacks on Christian churches in various parts of the State. The police told The Hindu that it was very difficult to keep a watch on the prayer hall because it was located on the outskirts of Chamarajanagar town. The East Police have registered a case and are investigating.

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