According to the British Asian Christian Association, the Catholic Priest said: “A group of students training to become priests was moving around Satna town, visiting Christian institutions and singing carols.
“Some 15 km from here in Dara Kalan village church they were getting ready for the Christmas celebrations, when a group of people attacked them, accusing them of carrying out religious conversions.”
The Hindu group raised slogans and called up the Civil Lines Police Station. All 32 carollers, accompanied by two priests, were taken to the police station.
Many of the victims who have been arrested have described extrajudicial violence by members of Bajrang Dal, whilst being detained at Civil Lines Police Station in police custody, they say that police officers watched, in some cases goaded the rioters and even joined in the beatings that the priests and seminarians were subjected to. Members of Bajrang Dal and the police have however denied the allegation as is customary in these situations.
A further 8 priests who travelled to the local police station on Friday were set upon by the activists of Bajrang Dal, while their car was set ablaze before them. The priests were also arrested by local police and were detained with those originally arrested.
Police who say they have registered a case under IPC Section 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance) in connection with the arson attack, have set free all 40 of the victims after pressure was…
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