annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
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INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Religious Minorities<br />
<strong>report</strong>edly suffered head injuries. Sister<br />
Shalot alleged that the attackers tried to<br />
drag her and Mother Kusumam out of the<br />
vehicle. Five of the injured had to be<br />
admitted in a private hospital in<br />
Kozhikode. 11 On 26 September 2004, the<br />
police rounded up 15 activists of the RSS<br />
<strong>for</strong> questioning in connection with the two<br />
attacks. 12<br />
On 12 September 2004, heavy<br />
security arrangements foiled the attempt of<br />
the VHP to demolish the tomb of Afzal<br />
Khan, a 17th century Mughal governor, at<br />
Panchwad, about 65 km from Pratapgarh<br />
Fort in Satara district of Maharashtra. The<br />
police arrested nearly 500 VHP activists,<br />
and seized 13 vehicles carrying them to<br />
Pratapgarh. 13<br />
Madhya Pradesh has also been at the<br />
center of religious intolerance. On 30<br />
December 2003, a group of Christian girls<br />
who were participating in a bible quiz<br />
competition were allegedly stoned and<br />
humiliated near their prayer house at<br />
village Antervalia in Jhabua district,<br />
Madhya Pradesh by some members of the<br />
local Hindu fundamentalist organisations.<br />
The mob also burnt the jeep used by the<br />
girls to reach village Antervalia. However,<br />
no action has been taken against any of the<br />
accused. On the same day, another group<br />
of Hindu fundamentalists burnt the homes<br />
of Lal Singh Bhuria and another Christian<br />
resident in village Antervalia. Instead of<br />
punishing the culprits, the police arrested<br />
Lal Singh Bhuria. On 31 December 2003,<br />
a mob allegedly humiliated the members<br />
of the local Christian community at village<br />
Gadauli Toli in Jhabua district. 14<br />
Atrocities against the Christians was<br />
allegedly perpetrated following the<br />
recovery of the dead body of a ten-yearold<br />
girl identified as Sujata, daughter of<br />
Panchhilal Saket15 on 11 January 2004 on<br />
the premises of a Catholic Mission<br />
compound in Jhabua town, Madhya<br />
Pradesh. It was suspected that she was<br />
raped and murdered. On 14 January 2004,<br />
a group of Hindu fundamentalists<br />
trespassed into the Catholic Mission<br />
compound and beat up the principal, father<br />
John Sunny, father John Kennedy and<br />
father Arogya Swami. They also damaged<br />
the motorcycle and jeep of the Principal.<br />
Later police arrested the principal and<br />
about six other priests. A Catholic Priest<br />
and a deputy ranger KC Mal, also a<br />
Christian, were also allegedly beaten up by<br />
a mob of Hindu fundamentalists on 14<br />
January 2004. 16<br />
On 16 January 2004, a few sadhvis<br />
from Gujarat led by Krishna Behn went to<br />
the village of Amkut, 60 km from Jhabua,<br />
and allegedly trespassed into the CNI<br />
mission, as a policeman stood guard<br />
outside. They entered into classrooms<br />
where examinations were being<br />
conducted and tore down posters of Jesus,<br />
and vilified the students. The Christians<br />
<strong>report</strong>edly retaliated by pelting stones on<br />
those in the procession, <strong>for</strong>cing the<br />
Sadhvis to flee. When news of the<br />
retaliation reached the nearby town of<br />
Alirajpur, several vehicles carrying armed<br />
men led by Alirajpur MLA Nagar Singh<br />
rushed to the village in the afternoon. But<br />
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