A fire that damaged a Bangalore church was part of a radical Hindu attack, Archbishop Bernard Moras said, refuting police claims that it was an accident. After visiting the site of the blaze at St Anthony's Church, Archbishop Moras told UCA News the incident was a well planned attack on the church and not caused by an electrical short circuit as the police claimed. "If it was so, how could the lights and fans work even now?" he asked.
He acknowledged the fire blackened some wires but insisted the church's wiring showed no signs of a short circuit. Additionally, the carpet in the middle of the church was partially burnt and no electric lines pass through that area, he noted.
Archbishop Moras also pointed out that articles inside the church "were piled up and burned."
According to archdiocesan spokesperson Fr Adolf Washington, copies of the Bible, hymnals, a statue of the Infant Jesus, the piano, hosts, vases and liturgical clothes were among the things set on fire.
Since it was raining that night, Archbishop Moras explained, a side door had been kept open for the two policemen guarding the church to shelter inside it if they wished.
People entered the church with the knowledge of the police, the prelate charged, adding that the policemen's claim that they were away for a tea break at the time of the fire does not make sense.
On October 14, a seven member delegation met federal home minister Shivraj Patil in Bangalore, demanding a probe into this latest case and action by the federal government to uphold the constitutional rights of Christians. Patil was in Bangalore to review steps the state government took to check the violence.
Fr Washington, a member of the delegation, said there was a clear indication during the meeting that the federal government was not happy with what was happenings in Karnataka and fully aware of the situation.
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(Source: CTHN)