Madhya Pradesh: Police issue notices to church office-bearers seeking religious conversion details, withdraw after objection
Police served notices to office-bearers of 40 churches in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city seeking details of religious conversion activities, but withdrew them after opposition by the Christian community and said they were issued "by mistake". The community members found "objectionable" the notices issued last week by different police stations in Indore to the office-bearers of around 40 churches and religious organisations, an office-bearer of one such outfit said. When asked about it, Indore Police Commissioner Makrand Deuskar told reporters on Saturday that the notices which reached the people were actually sent to the station house officers (SHOs) of all police stations in Indore. The SHOs sent them to members of the Christian community "by mistake", he said. Hence, the notices have been withdrawn after opposition by the community members, the official said. Suresh Kalton of the United Christian Forum on Sunday told PTI that there were "objectionable" questions in the notices on involvement in religious conversion activities. "There is a question in the notice asking the person to declare whether he or his organisation is involved in religious conversion. This act of the police is a violation of our constitutional rights," he claimed. “None of us is involved in such activities and we will go to the
European Parliament Adopts Resolution on Manipur, India Says it Reflects ‘Colonial Mindset’
The adoption took place in the afternoon along with other votes on schedule, just after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had landed in France for an official visit. New Delhi: The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution that called on Indian authorities to take “all necessary” measures to stop the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities, especially Christians. India reacted that it was “unacceptable” and reflection of a “colonial mindset”. The resolution was tabled by five political groups and adopted by a show of hands during the plenary session of the European Parliament. The adoption took place in the afternoon along with other votes on schedule, just after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had landed in France for an official visit. In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Such interference in India’s internal affairs is unacceptable, and reflects a colonial mindset”. “Indian authorities at all levels, including the judiciary, are seized of the situation in Manipur and are taking steps to maintain peace and harmony and law and order. The European Parliament would be well advised to utilize its time more productively on its internal issues,” he stated. A day earlier, Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra had
Over 400 anti-Christian attacks in 2023 alone: report
A report by the United Christian Forum slams the government’s denial of rising attacks on Christians and calls for an independent probe. The United Christian Forum (UCF), an organisation that compiles data on atrocities against Christians in India, has expressed its discontent with the Centre’s response to a crucial petition in the Supreme Court. On April 13, the Centre had informed the Supreme Court that the claims of rising attacks were fabricated to maintain an “exaggerated” and misleading narrative. “The government data downplays the severity of the situation,” stated A.C. Michael, the UCF’s national coordinator. The UCF has filed a petition with the apex court, decrying the increasing number of attacks and false police cases against minority community members, a trend coinciding with the enactment of anti-conversion laws in multiple States. Michael further explained, “Our advocate, Colin Gonsalves, submitted an interim prayer to the court on July 10, requesting the appointment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising retired IPS officers. This SIT would examine the lists provided by both parties to establish the facts.” He added that the government’s list is biased against the Christian community and argued that the government and the police are relying on baseless claims from third
Manipur Violence: Supreme Court grants interim protection in sedition case against lawyer who accompanied fact-finding team
The lawyer moved the Court contending that the FIR was based a press release that she did not sign, and that the contents of the said press release were not seditious. The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim protection to a lawyer who was charged with sedition after she accompanied a fact-finding team to enquire into the recent violence in Manipur [Deeksha Dwivedi v. State of Manipur & Anr]. The Court ordered that no coercive action be taken against the lawyer, advocate Deeksha Dwivedi. The interim order was passed after the matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave. In her plea before the top court, Dwivedi submitted that she had accompanied a two-woman team from the National Investigation Forum for Women (NIFW) as an independent lawyer and observer. The NIFW team is stated to have concluded that certain violent incidents in Manipur were State-sponsored. A press conference was held at Imphal on July 1 after the enquiry, and a press release was also issued on the team's findings. Following this, a first information report (FIR) was registered against Dwivedi and NIFW representatives for sedition, defamation, making assertions
Democracy in Distress: Tightening Restrictions and Minority Attacks Raise Alarms in India
The latest issue of British Herald Magazine, released in July 2023, sheds light on the ongoing unrest in Manipur, a northeastern state in India. The magazine also delves into the questionable silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the pressing issues faced in the country. Moreover, the publication features extensive coverage of the recent riots against racism in France. Along with other noteworthy global affairs and trending topics. “The greatness of a nation can be measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members,” famously stated Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation of India. Today, these words resonate with renewed significance as concerns continue to mount over the state of democracy in the country. The escalating attacks on minority communities and the tightening restrictions on freedom of speech. These have raised crucial questions about the fundamental principles of democratic values. The noticeable absence of response and silence from PM Modi has intensified the apprehensions surrounding the state of democracy in India. Despite being the leader of the world’s largest democracy since his election in 2014, Modi has rarely engaged with the media. Making only sporadic appearances. His recent joint press conference with President Joe Biden during his visit to the US
Majority Hindu Tribe in India’s Manipur Blockades Christian Tribes to Starve Them Out
The Times of India (TOI) reported on Monday that a blockade on food and medical supplies by the valley-dwelling Hindu majority of the Manipur province is starving the hill-dwelling Kuki Christian tribes, thousands of whom have been displaced from their homes into refugee camps. Manipur has been torn by violent ethnic conflict since May when the Meitei launched a petition to acquire the same preferences in employment and land ownership that are extended to the Kuki and other minority groups in the province. This enraged the tribal residents as the Meitei are much larger and better off than other ethnic groups, and they occupy most of the good lowlands in Manipur. Ethnic grievances erupted into violent assault and vandalism, and Manipur became a hot topic in Indian politics as opposition leaders accused the ruling BJP party of not doing enough to restore peace, perhaps because BJP has a Hindu nationalist platform and favors the Meitei villagers. The Kukis and Meiteis both created highway blockades to deprive each other of resources, a tactic that has been used in previous ethnic clashes because there are few good roads leading into the rough terrain of Manipur. Blockades during a Kuki-Meitei struggle in 2011 effectively cut the
Church seeks apology from Indian Communist leader
"Church groups in southern Indian Kerala state have sought an apology from a top Communist party leader for allegedly denigrating the life of Catholic nuns. The Pastoral Council of Irinjalakuda diocese in Kerala has passed a resolution, condemning the recent statements of M V Govindan, the state secretary of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). Govindan, at a public function in Kannur district, said the religious life of Catholic nuns has become a profession as nuns in England are protesting for better wages. The Communist leader visited the United Kingdom recently and was sharing his experiences at the inauguration of a new civic house building. Churches in England had been put up for sale as Christians no longer visit them, Govindan said. Churches "have turned into pubs as youngsters in England do not go to church,” he added. But “Christians from different denominations who migrated to the UK from Kerala still keep going to churches and are looking for their independent churches there,” he said. The pastoral council in its July 8 resolution asked Govindan to tender an unconditional apology and withdraw his statements. The council asked the party leader not to worry about the Church and instead look into the drastic decline of the communist parties in
Tribal Christian Is Beheaded, 3 Are Shot Dead in Manipur, India
India's Supreme Court has called on the government in the northeastern state of Manipur to provide an updated status report on the situation in the region after a tribal Christian was beheaded and three others were shot dead. On Sunday, a man identified as David Thiek was beheaded in Langza, a tribal village in the district of Churachandpur, home to Kuki-Zo tribes, as reported by First Post. One resident told the outlet that Thiek was one of several village volunteers who protected the village from looters as other residents fled from danger. In addition to Thiek's death, three others, identified as 34-year-old Ningombam Ibomcha, 26-year-old Naorem Rajkumar and 44-year-old Haobam Ibocha, were fatally shot in Manipur's Bishnupur district at the border with the hill district of Churachandpur. The news comes amid an ongoing conflict between the majority Hindu Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi tribes that began on May 3. So far, at least 137 people have been killed in the conflict, The Christian Post reports. India's Supreme Court is considering two petitions regarding the violence. One petition was filed by Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi and seeks protection for the majority Christian Kuki tribe by the Indian army. The second petition seeks to challenge a High Court directive to
Indian American Christians Discuss the Plight of Christian Community in Manipur, Offer Prayers for Peace
Hosted by the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA), the Indian Christian Day event in New York celebrated Indian heritage and Christian spirit. Indian American Christians from the greater New York area came together on July 2 to observe Indian Christian Day and to pray for members of the community in Manipur, who are facing calamity during the ongoing surge of violence in the northeastern Indian state. The celebration, which was supposed to be held on July 3, the day of St. Thomas, was held a day earlier at the Cathedral Hall of the Malankara Catholic Church in Elmont, New York. It was hosted by the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) to celebrate Indian heritage and Christian spirit. Several church priests, and dignitaries addressed the gathering including Rev. Mark Mang, Bishop Mar Joy Allapat of the Syro-Malabar Church, Bishop Isaac Mar Filoxenos Episcopa of Marthoma Church; Bishop Mar Joy Allapat of the Syro-Malabar Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. C.V. Mathew of the Evangelical Church, Rt. Rev. Johncy Itty of the Episcopal Church, and FIACONA President Koshy George. Bryan Nerran, who had to spend seven and a half months in prison in India on trumped up
Intense firing reported in two Manipur districts
Firing incidents were reported in two areas of Manipur on Wednesday at around 4:30 am. The previous incident of intermittent firing between the communities took place on July 4, in the evening. Intense firing was reported in certain areas of Manipur in the early hours of Wednesday. The firing began at around 4:30 am, specifically in the Kangpokpi district and Bishnupur district, according to news agency PTI. No casualties have been reported so far. The previous incident of intermittent firing between two communities took place on July 4, between 7 and 8 pm, reported PTI, quoting security officials. The exchange of gunfire stopped after this period, and no casualties were reported. Earlier, on the morning of July 4, a group of armed miscreants made an attempt to loot weapons from the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) located in a village in Manipur's Thoubal district. A 27-year-old man was killed in the clash between the miscreants and security officials, and an Assam Rifles jawan was shot at. The mob tried to storm the camp of an India Reserve Battalion in the Khangabok area to loot arms and ammunition, they said. Soon, a clash with the forces broke out. The forces tried to bring the situation under control and
