New Delhi, Sept 16: A team of National Commission
for Minorities (NCM) will make an on the spot assessment of
the attacks on churches and prayer halls in different parts of
Karnataka and submit its report to the Centre.
The team led by its Chairman Mohammed Shafi Qureshi will
visit all churches damaged in the attacks in Dakshina Kannada,
Udupi and Chikmagalur districts of the state. It will also
visit Mangalore.
"We strongly condemn the violence against Christian
minorities in Karnataka. This has to stop immediately."
Qureshi said before leaving for Mangalore.
He said the team members will talk to the victims and
also meet the Governor and the Chief Minister there to apprise
them of the concerns of minorities.
Other members of the team are NCM Vice Chairman Michael P
Pinto and member Harcharan Singh Josh. NCM Secretary M K
Khanna and a Christian member of Delhi Minority Commission
will also accompany them.
Earlier, NCM had asked for a report from the Karnataka
government on the attacks on churches immediately after the
violence broke out.
Qureshi said the state government in its report gave a
detailed account of the steps taken by it to control the
situation. It said the attack on the prayer hall in Mangalore
was carried out by 15 masked men.
Violence erupted in Karnataka after attacks on churches
and prayer halls on September 14 by suspected Hindu activists
over alleged forcible conversion.
Bureau Report
