Mumbai (AsiaNews) - A group of 40 Christian pilgrims was attacked in Tamil Nadu by some Hindu extremists who did not like their presence. Departing from Karnataka, the faithful set out on pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Velankanni on the coast of Tamil Nadu. Before arriving, on August 18th they were attacked and insulted in the area of Natrampalli, district of Vellore. The radicals accused them of proselytizing because during the pilgrimage they carried the statue of the Virgin on a chariot decorated with flowers. The statue of the Virgin was also desecrated: a garland of slippers was placed around her neck.
Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), commented to AsiaNews to "attack the 40 pilgrims while they were on pilgrimage and carrying the statue of Our Lady of Health. They were abused by six members of the extremist faction belonging to Hindi Munnani. The attackers claimed that the transport of Christian statues is not allowed in the residential area".
The day after the attack the police arrested the six attackers. The agents stated that they are accused of harassment of pilgrims and that they had torn up a poster with pictures of Mary and Jesus. Murali, deputy police superintendent, reports that the attack could have had worse consequences if the agents had not intervened. The official said that in the beginning the Christians did not even want to file a complaint. "It took six hours to convince them," he says.
The president of the GCIC protests for "the grave abuse of religious freedom, intolerance and disrespectful behavior towards innocent pilgrims. They feared for their lives. Government data report that Christians are less than 3% of the Indian population, so conversion propaganda is false and fabricated ".
