Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - A Catholic school run by the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Graces in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand (or Uttaranchal), was devastated by a gang of radical Hindu militants, members of the extremist organisation Sangh Parivar.
The civil authorities and human rights groups, the local Catholic Church and other Christians have said they are deeply shocked at this totally unprovoked attack which sowed panic among the pupils and teachers and left the school building completely devastated. The school was in the village of Vikas Nagar near the town of Dehra Dun.
The local Church is outraged and has called for the arrest of those responsible while the local police adopted an attitude of complacence and would appear to want to let the episode go unpunished. The violence was announced with a series of threats of which the police had been informed.
The group of militants, at least 250, first stood in front of the school shouting slogans against the school and the director. Then they began to sack the building smashing windows, doors and everything they could lay hands on. A few days earlier members of the nationalist Hindu Baratiya Janata Party complained that some Hindu children had not been admitted to the school. The headmaster explained that the school accepts pupils for merit, not on a basis of religion and in fact the pupils are of various religions. This provoked the threats which the school reported to the police. And now after the attack those responsible have not been arrested.
This year there have been 100 episodes of violence on Christians or Christian structures. Last year 215 cases were reported and in 2005 more than 200. On 29 May in Delhi Christians staged a peaceful demonstration calling for respect for religious freedom and greater protection and security for religious minorities.
India has a population of one billion and of these about 25 million, 2.5%, are Christians. Christians run schools and hospitals and play an important role to promote the country's cultural, social and political progress. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2007 righe 32 parole 325)
