annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

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