Panic is spreading among Christians in Karnataka over rumors that Hindu extremists are planning to repeat anti-Christian violence which broke out in the southern state almost three years ago. The rumors started circulating in earnest this week after police began phoning a number of pastors on August 18 asking them to register their prayer houses with the nearest police station, Jesuit Father Ronnie Prabhu, general secretary of the Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights, said today. He said the police want the pastors to get permission from the district commissioner to hold gatherings and say how many people regularly attend services. Most of the pastors belong to the Karnataka Mission Network, an association of 27 Pentecostal churches in the state. Its president Rev Walter Maben said 70 pastors have been called and were told that without registration, police would not be able to protect the prayer houses and gatherings would be treated as unlawful. “The pastors were told to follow the instructions to the letter or they would be in danger,” Fr Prabhu said. However, when a pastor of an “unaffiliated church” went to the commissioner’s office, he was told no orders requiring registration were issued. Fr Prabhu quoted police sources as saying that some Hindu groups plan to observe the anniversary of the 2008 attacks with a repeat performance. The police apparently are showing concern, but they appear to be “laying down impossible conditions so that they can’t be held responsible” if any attacks occur, Fr Prabhu explained. The violence that broke out in September 2008 saw a series of attacks on Christians and 24 Church buildings. Hindu extremists had accused Christians of performing conversions in the state. In April this year, Hindu hardliners attacked three Christian homes for children. Last week, a group of 20 extremists attacked Rev Sangappa Hosamani Shadrak, a Pentecostal pastor for conducting prayer services in his house. Related links: Christians attacked again in KarnatakaCHRISTIANS FORM FORUM TO PROMOTE POLITICAL AWARENESS IN KARNATAKA STATE
