Karnataka - Mangalore   

‘Ban Bajrang Dal which is dividing society’

MANGALORE: “We Christians of Allipade area are afraid of the Bajrang Dal because of their actions and their facial expressions,” said Benedika Moras of Navoor village in Bantwal taluk before the B.K. Somashekhara Commission of Inquiry here on Thursday.

The commission began its three-day hearing for the third time here from Thursday. S.R. Raviprakash, the commission’s legal adviser, recorded the statements of 20 witnesses.

The commission is inquiring into the attacks on prayer halls in the State on September 14 and incidents that followed later.

A majority of witnesses appealed to the commission that the Bajrang Dal be banned as it was dividing society and creating a rift between Hindus and Christians.

Christian Menezes of Navoor from the same taluk deposed before Mr. Raviprakash in Tulu. “Eeru nett dada barettar gottunda?” (Do you know what have you written in this?) he asked her about the affidavit she had filed.

Ms. Menezes alleged that Bajrang Dal activists threw stones at her from the terrace of a house on B.C. Road on September 15, 2008, while she was waiting for a bus. At the same time, the police used lathis there on Christians, who were protesting against the September 14 attacks. “The stone hit me on the chest. Later, I got treatment at Kasturba Medical College Hospital in Mangalore,” she said.

She alleged that the police beat her.

Josphin D’Souza, former president of Bantwal town panchayat from Kallige village in Bantwal taluk, alleged that the members of Bajrang Dal were spreading false propaganda on Christian members of self-help groups (SHGs) that they were converting Hindus in those groups. She said that Christians helped Hindus in many ways without any intention of converting them to Christianity. However, some vested interests, which she referred to as Bajrang Dal activists, had not recognised their service. The hearing will continue till Saturday.

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