CNI Appeals for Peace and Justice for the Christian Community in Batala, Punjab

“The Christian community in Batala and its adjoining area (Gurdaspur district) of Punjab is facing serious threat to life and property from the Hindu extremist outfits. One of our Churches, the Church of Epiphany has been completely damaged and ransacked. The attack is preempted and pre-planned. “While we condemn the attacks, we call upon the Home Ministry and the National Minority Commission to take immediate action against the culprits and restore peace in the area”, said The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, Church of North India, who is presently in London attending the Council for World Mission meeting. The Council for World Mission is a global organization with 31 member churches all over the world including the Church of North India. The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan is the Deputy Moderator of this global organization and he shared the sad news with all the International community who vehemently condemned the attack and assured of prayers to all the Christians of Punjab. A memorandum to this effect has been sent to Union Government and the National Minority Commission on behalf of the Communion of Churches in India, a body of the three large Protestant Churches – Church of North India, Church of South India and Mar Thoma Church.

The communal tension suddenly erupted on February 20, 2010 was the outcome of highly objectionable portrait of Christ that was displayed on Ram Navmi Hoarding in Jalandhar. A Protest call was immediately given by the Christian Community of Punjab. In most of the places the protest was peaceful but in Batala Town of District Gurdaspur the situation took turn for the worst, when some youth demanded the downing of the shutters in Hindu dominated market. Resistance on the part of these shopkeepers led to clashes between the two communities. The violence gradually spread to the entire city when Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena came out on the roads with weapons and indulged in arson, looting and violence. Epiphany Church of Church of North in India, and a church of Salvation Army were completely vandalized and the priests in charge of these churches were brutally thrashed and their houses were also ransacked. The local police remained a mute spectator when the churches were being destroyed.

Shockingly, the miscreants who vandalized the Churches and indulged in arson were left scot free while several Church priests and prominent Christian leaders and other laymen were rounded up and detained in the police station. Some of them were released and others are still in police custody. The police are still rounding up the members of Christian Communities at the behest of local BJP MLA. The local administration has clamped the curfew but the situation still remains highly volatile and explosive. On the other hand the miscreants who are not yet nabbed by the police but roaming free, are abetting communal hatred and threatening to destroy the peace and harmony of the city and state.

The Rt. Rev. Pradeep Kumar Samantaroy, Bishop, Diocese of Amritsar, Church of North India, along with Mr. Daniel B. Das and Rev. Auyb Daniel visited Batala with the permission of the SSP as curfew has been clamped in the area. Bishop Samantaroy met the members of the congregation who had gathered in the campus of Barring Christian College to pray. He also spoke to Rev. Dn. Victor Gill and his wife and assured them of prayer support. Rev. Dn. Victor Gill and his wife Praveen are still in shock. Bishop Samantaroy also addressed the press and informed them about the incident occurred and the losses and damages incurred by the Church. While condemning the act, he called upon the local government authorities to rise to the occasion and restore peace in the area.

In Amritsar, Bishop Samantaroy, jointly with Bishop Anil Couto, Roman Catholic Bishop of Jalandhar issued a press statement, pleading with the people to keep calm and refrain from violence.

Reacting to the incident Adv. B. D. Das said that criminal cases should be instituted against the perpetrators of the riot and a delegation should visit Punjab on 1st and 2nd March 2010 for fact finding and assessment of the damage of the churches and also to meet the NHRC and NMC.

The Church of North is a united largest Protestant Church in Northern India including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, having about 15 lakh membership.