Christian leaders accuse Mangalore police of imposing restriction on prayer gathering; top cop denies

Mangalore, August 27: The decision to “impose restrictions on the Christian Worship and prayer gatherings” by the Mangalore city Police is desperately shocking, said Walter J Maben, Chairman, Karnataka Missions Network.

Addressing a media conference here on Saturday, Mr Maben said that the police have asked the pastors to obtain fresh written permission from the Deputy Commissioner for worship or prayer meetings in places where they have been gathering for several years now. “Such draconian stipulation of getting permission for worship is unheard of anywhere in the country”, he said.

This is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of freedom of religion and also infuses fear psychosis on the already suffering Christian community, he opined.

He also mentioned that the dictate was not given in writing to the Pastors. When clarifications in matters concerning this order were sought with the police at a meeting with the Pastors, they were not allowed to speak, he said. “It was not a dialogue between parties, but a decree by the police”, he added.

“In the guise of giving us protection, we are being hounded like aliens, snatching away the freedom of worship enshrined by the Constitution of our country”, a visibly distressed Pastor said.

“If police does not resolve this matter and withdraw their verbal orders we will seek legal remedy. The prejudiced restriction imposed on the religious practices in Christians without any written instructions are flawed and completely unacceptable”, he said.

Fr Francis D'Almeida, Vice Principal, St Aloysius College, Pr Alwin Colaco of PUCL, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail of Komu Sauharda Vedike and Prashanth Jathanna, President, Chraista Okkuta were present at the press meet.

Police clarification

When contacted, Seemanth Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Police Commissioner, Mangalore, denied the allegation of imposing restriction on prayer gatherings.

However he admitted that police has asked Christian institutions to inform about any prayer gatherings in advance. The police have instructed several pastors across the region to inform the authorities so as to stop any miscreants from repeating the attacks of 2008, he said.

“It is our responsibility to give protection to any prayer gathering. There is nothing special in it,” he said.

He also said that this was a precautionary measure to stop any unwanted accidents from disrupting the normal life in the city. He ensured that there was no reason to panic.