Bajrang Dal men attack Christians in Ahmedabad

Giving details of the incident, Samson said members of the Operation Mobilisation Association of Christians (OMAC) had been preaching in the area for the last two days and the Bajrang Dal was aware of this. He claimed the attack was pre-planned.

While they were preaching in the area, OMAC members were accosted allegedly by BD activists who threatened them with dire consequences. Following the threats, all OMAC members, but one, fled. He was reportedly caught by BD activists and pamphlets and copies of the Bible snatched from him.

The man rushed to the house of Justin Christian, who is the brother of Samson and lives in the area, and asked his wife to help him. Together they went to the police station where Justin was present with other OMAC members.

In the meantime, BD men came to Justin’s house but he was not there. They returned at 3.30 pm with swords and asked for him. Samson Christian and neighbour Biren Ghosh intervened with the result that the latter lost two fingers.

Ghosh was admitted to L G Hospital.

Justin Christian, who also writes Desai with his name, lodged a complaint with Kanbha police who arrested two persons Anil Poonamchand Patel and Alok Gopal Pariyal as a result.

In his counter complaint, another resident Anil Patel has alleged he was attacked by Justin, Samson and Ghosh.

Meanwhile, Sharmista and Jyotsna Bhatt who are also undergoing treatment at L G Hospital, accused the OMAC members of stirring up trouble. They alleged that some Christians were asking people in their neighbourhood to convert to their faith. Anil Patel intervened and asked OMAC members to desist from preaching. This resulted in a scuffle which left the two women injured.

The Congress has alleged that the attack was perpetrated by the Bajrang Dal activists. A party release said the incident took place at 11:30 am when some OMAC members were in the area and BD men surrounded and attacked them.