Bhubaneswar, Jan 30: The two-member member fact finding team of the National Commission for Minorities without naming the Bajarang Dal said that the Manoharpur incident is indicating towards a ``particular direction''.Addressing a news conference here, the team comprising James Messey and K Neminath, members of the commission told media persons on Friday that there are ``certain forces'' behind the incident. They, however, decline to name the forces involved in the ghastly incident in which an Australian missionary and his two sons were burnt alive.The team which visited Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district on Thursday would submit its report to the commission in New Delhi by February 2. The team held discussions with people from both the Hindu and Christian communities and the district administration as well.Messey said that the incident was pre-planned and there are some common factors with incidents that had taken places in different parts of the country.About the alleged involvement of theBajrang Dal, Dr Messy said that the district Superintendent of police, Keonjhar informed the team that the miscreants had shouted slogans `Bajrang bali ki jai' after committing the crime.However, people from both the Christian and Hindu communities pleaded their ignorance about Bajarang Dal when the team enquired about the same during their visit. Asked whether the Manoharpur incident could be interlinked with other incidents where Christian minorities were attacked, Massey said the main aim of the commission is to find out the links. He, however, said it was not always Christian versus Hindu or vice versa. But in most cases it was between the minority and majority community.He said attacks on Christian minorities are on the rise since March 1997. However, the Manoharpur incident was the worst compare to other incidents in the country. A priest was beheaded at Dumka in Bihar. He said the commission is on the job to find out the reasons and factors responsible for the increasing attacks.He said thecommission was working on three factors, inter-religious conflict, majority-minority concept and political involvement to find out the possible reasons of such attacks.Dismissing the allegation that conversion is the reason for the communal tension, Dr Jessey said that the Christian population was 2.57 per cent as per the 1981 census which reduced to 2.43 per during 1991 census.The fact finding team is finding it difficult to draw a conclusion about the motive of killing Staines and his two sons. He said none of the villagers could point out the reason behind the murder. The very fact is that Staines family is non-controversial and liked by all.Refuting the allegation that 31 families of the village were converted during the annual jungle camp, Dr Jessey said that he checked up with the villagers and the district administration but did not find a single family which has been converted.
