Students have pressed on with road repairs for the local community despite police fears for their safety after a  Hindu group  accused a Church youth camp of attempting to convert students to Christianity.

“When we do good work for the public, the police should protect us rather than listen to some baseless complaints,” said Father Lawrence Mascarenhas, the local priest.

The students, including Hindus and Muslims, were members of Young Students’ Movement (YSM), a Catholic forum for students from grades eight to 10. The forum is part of the internationally-known Young Christian Students’ Movement (YCS).

The 82 teenagers, art of the Oct. 7-11 village camp the Church organized in Madanthyar village, near Mangalore,  repaired a kilometer of damaged public road in a village in Karnataka.

Members of a Hindu group complained to police who wanted to stop the roadwork, saying it might create sectarian disquiet.

But most of the Hindu villagers supported the program with some 100 people joining students in the repairs.

The local administration sent a team of 40 policemen to protect the students on Oct. 10.

Father Ronald D’Souza, director of the YCS/YSM programs in Mangalore diocese said they have 132 YCS units with more than 5,500 members and 82 YSM units with some 2,500 members.

“The membership has no restrictions based on faith. We stress human values formation,” Father D’Souza added.

Lavita D’Souza, YSM diocesan president said the movement has been active in the diocese for the past 40 years. “Until now, no one has blamed it for conversion,” she said.

Christian leaders say fanatic Hindu harassments on their people have increased ever since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state two years ago.

Related reports
Catholic youths march for peace
Catholic Youth Walks In Saint Francis´ Footsteps, Hopes To Inspire Others

IB11526.1623