Christian body alleges threat, wants NIA probe

The All-India Christian Council has demand a separate National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe to see if those accused of attacking Muslims in Malegoan also aided anti-Christian rioting in Orissa and Karnataka. Zia Haq reports.

The All-India Christian Council has demand a separate National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe to see if those accused of attacking Muslims in Malegoan also aided anti-Christian rioting in Orissa and Karnataka. The council has citing significant threats to the community in many states.

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A high-level delegation of the council, in separate appeals to home minister P Chidambaram and Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, called for timely steps to prevent a repeat arson witnessed in 2008 and 2009.

Demanding an NIA probe on Tuesday, council chief John Dayal alleged that there could be renewed threats to the minority community since many accused “roam free”.

A legislator from the BJP was convicted in June, 2010, for his role in violence against Christians in Orissa in 2008 that left at least 40 people dead and thousands displaced. In August, 16 others were sentenced to three years in prison for their role in the violence.

The council has slammed the recently released Justice Somasekhara Commission Report on violence against Christians in Karnataka, which proposed anti-conversion laws and regulation of Christian institutions and properties while exonerating many of organisations, which the Christians leaders allege to be perpetrators.

According to the London-based Human Rights Watch, “like attacks on Muslims, attacks on Christians are part of a campaign of right-wing Hindu organisations”.