ASIA/INDIA - Anti-Christian violence: Two statues of saints destroyed by vandals in West Bengal

Wednesday, 2 December 2020 religious freedom religious minorities violence persecutions

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Baruipur (Agenzia Fides) - Two statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which were placed in two grottos outside the Church of the Sacred Heart in Morapai, West Bengal, were destroyed by unknown persons. Fr. Soosaiappan, the parish priest, and Fr. Gautam Naskar, vice parish priest, noticed the crime on November 28th at 6 am. They informed the village chief and the local police.
"The two statues are reduced to shatters" said Mgr. Shyamal Bose, Bishop of the Diocese of Baruipur, , in whose diocese the parish is located, after a site visit. "The authorities have assured us that they will arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible and replace all the images", said the Bishop.
In a note sent to Fides, the Global Council of Indian Christians (Gcic), expressed concern and dismay at the numerous incidents of anti-Christian violence that are occurring in various states of India, especially in tribal areas. In view of Christmas, the Council of Christians hopes that "peace and harmony may prevail in Indian society, and that Christ, the Prince of Peace, will bring peace and security to the Indian believers".
According to the United Christian Forum (UCF) website, MapViolence, which documents incidents of violence against Christian communities in India, most cases of violence are recorded in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. From 1 September to,2 December, 76 episodes of anti-Christian violence against people, objects or places, have been reported across the country. In all of 2020 (January-November) there are 250.
At the root of such violence, explains the UCF, there is the spread of false news or tendentious propaganda: for example, it is alleged that Christians are trying to convert Hindu believers for money. Such messages, circulated on social media, generate violent reactions. "Indian Christians respect the law and are benevolent towards their fellow citizens", affirmed the UCF. (SD-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 2/12/2020)