DIBRUGARH, March 16 � The Dibrugarh Inter Church Forum (DICF), an association of various churches of Upper Assam, today expressed concern over the spate of crimes against Christians, churches, institutions and church leaders in recent times.
DICF, a combined body of representatives from the Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Presbyterian Church of India, Church of North India, Church of Jesus Christ, Dibrugarh Kuki Worship Service, Saura Baptist Church, Believers� Church and the EUSI of Assam Medical College, saying that the Christians as a whole were deeply hurt, vehemently condemned the alleged gangrape of an ailing 72-year-old nun at Ranaghat in West Bengal in the intervening night of March 13. They said this has crossed the limits of barbarism and religious hostility in a secular country like India.
In a memorandum submitted to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner here today, a delegation of the DICF urged the President to take an appropriate action to suppress all such elements who have been working to destroy the secular fabric of the country.
The President has also been asked to ensure peaceful coexistence of people of all faiths in the country.
It needs to be mentioned here that at least six churches have been desecrated in the last few months in the form of arson, vandalism, stone-pelting and robbery. Some of the churches which were attacked recently are St Sebastian�s Church in Delhi�s Dilshad Garden, the Church in Vikashpuri in West Delhi, St Joseph�s Church in Mangalore, Karnataka, Syro Malabar Church at Jasola in South Delhi, the Crib at Church of Resurrection in outer Delhi�s Rohini area, the Saint Alphonsa�s Roman Catholic Church in Delhi�s Vasant Kunj and the Believer�s Church in Haryana.
In the memorandum, the Forum leaders said: �Going by the pattern of violence against Christians and their establishments and gauging the manner of response from the law and order machinery of the country, we are bound to believe that anti-Christian activities are being planned and orchestrated by certain influential fundamentalist groups.�
Seeking justice, DICF demanded that all culprits be brought to book and punished. The delegation was led by its president Dr Lamkholal Doungel, Vicar General of Diocese of Dibrugarh, Fr Lazar Kakasery and DICF secretary, David G Momin.
The DICF also organised a protest meeting at the parish hall of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishops House here this evening and prayed for all the victims and people affected by such heinous crimes.