New Fundamentalist Strategy to Target Christians: Sangliana

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 9:  “Even the police have no right to touch another’s property without a search warrant,” said Dr H T Sangliana, former MP and DGP. He was speaking at a press meet organized by Karnataka Mission Network at Sahodaya on Nov 9, Monday, to discuss the false cases filed against Christians. 





He also said that he would find out the truth regarding moral policing not as a Christian leader, but as a national leader. He alleged that bribes have been taken to file cases against members of the Christian community on grounds of illegal conversion, but not a single police officer has got any evidence. 

Sangliana said that there are 74 pending illegal conversion cases against Christians in South Kanara alone and these cases have been pending from several years because of lack of evidence. In spite of the fact that there is no evidence of forced conversion, police officers are ready to attack members of the Christian community on grounds of illegal conversion. 

Recently, the police filed 2 cases of illegal conversion against members of the Christian community. Their close relatives spoke at the press meet and shared their stories. 

Mr. Joseph Fernandes, the husband of Saroja, warden of Bethel Christian Hostel in Udyavara, said that a case of illegal conversion was filed against them as per the plans of Hindu fundamentalist groups. He also said that Saroja was presented before the Judicial Magistrate, which remanded her for imprisonment for 2 days and 2 nights. 

Mrs. Ashalatha, wife of Ripson, a businessman in Attavar, said that she was surprised when 300 people and 4 police officers entered her house without a search warrant. She alleged that the police confiscated a few books from her collection, stating them to be books used for conversion.

She said that she was aware of the fact that Shiva, the watchman, had lodged a complaint against Vincent when Superintendent of Police Amit Singh informed her about it. Although police interrogation revealed that the watchman’s allegations were false, they were pressurized to leave their rented flat by the other occupants of the building. 

Fr William Menezes, Walter D’Souza, Fr Onil D’Souza, Alvin Colaco, and Bishop C L Furtado were present at the press meet.