HUBLI, JULY 8: On a day when Christians across the country were observing a ``national day of solidarity against communal and fascist forces'', a bomb ripped through a Protestant church in a Christian-dominated area, destroying the main door and damaging some walls. Coming soon after the twin explosions near a church in Gulbarga district last month, the blast led to angry protests by the community. Some buses were stoned and two set on fire. A bandh has been called in the city on Monday and Tuesday.Karnataka home minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who was in Hassan to attend a police meet, ordered a high-level probe into the incident and said he would visit Hubli tomorrow or the day after, official sources said.What stoked the community's ire after the blast was the delay by the police in reaching the spot. Angry crowds, including women, took out a spontaneous procession from the church premises on Gadag Road to Kittur Chennamma Circle, pelting stones and forcing shops to close.The police lathi-charged the crowd and allowed them carry on with the procession only after Rev James Talapata took the lead. Bishop Balme of the Northern Dioceses of the Church of South India and coordinator and former Bishop Dandin joined the procession.Deputy Commissioner Vandana Gurnani, who had come to the church, was called to the Chennamma Circle. She was presented a memorandum there. She assured the people that churches and Christians would be protected. Police Commissioner Dharam Pal Negi also promised full protection to all churches. He said investigations were on to nab the culprits.The protestors, however, refused to move from the Kittur Chennamma Circle, where thousands had gathered, blocking traffic till late in the evening.Rev Talapata told The Indian Express that four to five men had come to St Peter's Church, close to St John's Church, around 3 a.m. The dogs there started barking, alerting the watchman who chased them away.The nearby St John's Church was not so lucky. It was deserted as the pastor, Rev K S Gabriel, had gone to Bhadravati. An old watchman, Neelambram, was sleeping inside.This is the latest incident in a series of incidents against Christians in the city. In May, the vehicle of an evangelist was damaged and the evangelists' meeting indefinitely postponed due to tension. Recently, a pastor in Old Hubli area was beaten up by miscreants and is recovering in hospital.The police have already deployed their men at all churches for round-the-clock protection.In Bangalore, community leaders expressed shock over the explosion and asked the Central and state governments to protect nuns, preachers and Christian institutions. In a joint statement, they said the attack came in the wake of similar bomb attacks on churches in Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh in June.
