by Nirmala Carvalho

In March, Hindu fundamentalists and police demolished a church in Chhattisgarh. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) calls for protection for the Holy Week celebrations.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Even at Lent, while preparing for Easter, Christians in some parts of India are victims of aggression and violence, denounces Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), pointing to attacks that took place in March in Chhattisgarh and Kerala. "This - said the Christian leader launching an appeal to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) - is the most important week of the year: the Christian minorities should have greater protection and security."

On March 13 in Gadia (Jagdalpur district , Chhattisgarh), a group of Hindu fundamentalists accompanied by administrative personnel and police demolished a church, claiming it had been built illegally. The local community tried to intervene, but the group physically and verbally attacked the Christians, not sparing women and children. Before demolishing the church, the Hindu radicals and officials destroyed Bibles, musical instruments and pews, and then desecrated other sacred objects.

A few days earlier, on March 10, hundreds of Hindu extremists attacked a prayer service of the Brethren Assembly Church, in the village of Chirayinkeezzh (Trivandrum district , Kerala), beating those present with wooden sticks. One Christian suffered serious head injuries. The Hindus attacked the community accusing it of practicing forced conversions.

"This anti-Christian sentiment - warned Sajan George - bodes ill for a peaceful and solemn religious celebration of the Lords Pasch. GCIC appeals for enhanced protection from the administration, to enable the Christian citizens of Secular India exercise their Consitutionally guaranteed Religious Freedom. It is most unfortunate, that the administration which is duty bound to protect the citizens -themselves cohort with the extremists to unleash violence minority community".