KUNDAPUR: Attack on Priest Condemned
Karnataka Bishops Condemn Attack On Church Personnel In Kundapur, Huge Protest Rally Held
Kundapura, Karnataka, June 28, 2007, 9.30 Hrs (CBCI News/daijiworld):
KUNDAPUR: Protest Against Attack on Catholic Priest
Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council (KRCBC) has condemned the assault on a Carmelite priest and four other church personnel at Koteshwar near Kundapur in Udupi district on Monday June 25.
In a press note issued by the Council president Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore has said the attack is an attempt to provoke Christians who are a minority community and to disturb peace and harmony in the area.
The Karnataka Bishops’ Conference has appealed to the chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, deputy chief minister B S Yadiyurappa, leader of the opposition and home minister to take immediate action against the accused.
As reported earlier, on Monday Fr Sylvester Pereira and his companions had gone to a Hospital at Kundapur for treatment. Fr Sylvester was taken unawares when the youth attacked him with foul language and beat him in the hospital premises.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday June 27, thousands of people gathered at Shastri Circle in the Kundapura town to show solidarity with the victims of attack and to protest against the communal forces which were “bent to destroying the secular fabric of the undivided district of Dakshina Kannada.”
The protest was organized by like-minded organizations from the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, witnessed a sea of people thronging in support of Fr Sylvester Pereira.
It was not only the gathering of Christians but even Hindu and Muslim brethren came together in huge number, in order to express their solidarity. It was a spontaneous protest rally where an aggressive assault on five innocent people including a priest was condemned.
The protesters included MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, former member of parliament I M Jayaram Shetty, former member of parliament Vinaykumar Sorake, Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary, K Shankar of CPI (M), Rajashekhar of Human Rights Organization, Edwin Crasta, Kundapur Taluk Panchayat president Jyoti Putran, Udupi Zilla Panchayat vice-president Sharada Bijur, Udupi district Congress president M A Gafur, Shyamala Bhandary, ex-MLC Winifred Fernandes, Zilla Panchayat member Gerald Fernandes, Lancy D’Cunha, president of Catholic Sabha, Vicar General of Mangalore Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu, Ananta Movadi, Harun Saheb, Jacob D’Souza, Carmelite Karnataka-Goa provincial Fr Dominic Vas, Kundapura dean Fr Antony Lobo and others.
In a press note issued by the Council president Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore has said the attack is an attempt to provoke Christians who are a minority community and to disturb peace and harmony in the area.
The Karnataka Bishops’ Conference has appealed to the chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, deputy chief minister B S Yadiyurappa, leader of the opposition and home minister to take immediate action against the accused.
As reported earlier, on Monday Fr Sylvester Pereira and his companions had gone to a Hospital at Kundapur for treatment. Fr Sylvester was taken unawares when the youth attacked him with foul language and beat him in the hospital premises.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday June 27, thousands of people gathered at Shastri Circle in the Kundapura town to show solidarity with the victims of attack and to protest against the communal forces which were “bent to destroying the secular fabric of the undivided district of Dakshina Kannada.”
The protest was organized by like-minded organizations from the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, witnessed a sea of people thronging in support of Fr Sylvester Pereira.
It was not only the gathering of Christians but even Hindu and Muslim brethren came together in huge number, in order to express their solidarity. It was a spontaneous protest rally where an aggressive assault on five innocent people including a priest was condemned.
The protesters included MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, former member of parliament I M Jayaram Shetty, former member of parliament Vinaykumar Sorake, Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary, K Shankar of CPI (M), Rajashekhar of Human Rights Organization, Edwin Crasta, Kundapur Taluk Panchayat president Jyoti Putran, Udupi Zilla Panchayat vice-president Sharada Bijur, Udupi district Congress president M A Gafur, Shyamala Bhandary, ex-MLC Winifred Fernandes, Zilla Panchayat member Gerald Fernandes, Lancy D’Cunha, president of Catholic Sabha, Vicar General of Mangalore Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu, Ananta Movadi, Harun Saheb, Jacob D’Souza, Carmelite Karnataka-Goa provincial Fr Dominic Vas, Kundapura dean Fr Antony Lobo and others.
