Atrocities Against Christians Highest In Karnataka: Report

By SAR NEWS
BANGALORE, Oct 23 -- Karnataka State in southern India has the worst record of atrocities against Christians recorded in the last 20 months, according to Global Council of Indian Christians, a human rights organisation based in Bangalore.
Karnataka, which witnessed 87 cases of attacks on Christians in 20 months, is only followed by Madhya Pradesh with 30 cases.The council submitted a memorandum to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), seeking an independent inquiry into the incidents. It also linked the rise in atrocities in Karnataka to the rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party coming to power in the State.
"After the BJP came into the coalition, there has been a climate of impunity for any act of violence committed in the name of Hindutva," the memorandum stated.
Many of these attacks, GCIC claimed, "occurred inside homes where people come together for prayers, and in the churches".GCIC has alleged that the police, in many cases, had refused to either file first information reports or pursue the matter with seriousness. In many instances, cases had been booked against the victims themselves. This had led to most cases remaining "invisible", the Council claimed.
GCCI has sought an investigation into the incidents by a specially empowered group in a speedy and time-bound manner.SHRC chairperson S.R. Naik has sent copies of the memorandum to the chief secretary, Government of Karnataka, and directed him to submit his response within three weeks, after discussions with key officials of the State in charge of law and order.GCIC president Sajan K. George said the organisation had recorded 464 cases of atrocities against Christians throughout India over 20 months and submitted a memorandum to the National Human Rights Council as well.