Social activists slam probe report on Karnataka church attacks

Mtoday news

New Delhi, Jan 31 : Prominent social activists and Christian groups today alleged that the Justice Somasekhara report that gave a clean chit to BJP government and Sangh Parivar in 2008 church attacks in Karnataka was ’’biased’’ and demanded a fresh probe.

Social activists Nafisa Ali and Swami Agnivesh condemned the report and called it "biased" and "sham" at a meet here.The report is "self-contradictory, biased and totally unacceptable," Swami Agnivesh told reporters.

Retired Karnataka High court Justice Michael Saldanha said that a fresh appeal would be made in the court for reviewing the matter.

Based on the his examination of the witnesses, injured in last three months, a separate report on the issue would be handed over to the Chief Minister of the state and a copy of the same would be presented to the Governor, he said.

 

Saldanha alleged that video, photographs and statements made in media were totally ignored in the making of the report which was contradicting the clean chit in the report.

"Videographed evidences of the state police entering place of worship and smashing the churches were ignored... instead the officers involved have been given promotion," claimed Saldanha.

Saldanha said that after having a factual investigation of the evidences, photographs and witnesses, he had come up with a report which he will present to the Governor of the state and ask for a decisive action.

"We plan to write to the National Commission for Minorities," says Abraham Mathai, president of the Indian Christian Voice and vice-chairman in the Maharashtra Minorities Commission