Christian leaders protest attacks

The dharna was staged in front of the collector8217;s office. In a memorandum to the collector, founder-president of the Indian Christian Movement, John Paul, said the culprits should be booked and legal action taken against them. Adequate compensation for the affected people and institutions was also sought. A CBI inquiry should be ordered to investigate the Orissa incidents and their nexus to attacks on the Christian community in other states, he said.

Paul called for a ban on fundamentalist groups that train terrorists, saying, 8220;The leaders who act on a communal agenda or inspire organised violence against persons of another community or who use religion for political purposes should be restrained.8221;

In the event of people taking the law into their own hands, the police should be instructed to act in accordance with the demands of law and order, with justice and without any prejudice, he said.

The CAP has also demanded a high-level peace coordination committee comprising heads of all religions to work for peace in Karnataka, said Paul, urging for rehabilitation of the victims by providing immediate relief and adequate compensation.