Tamil Christians in Mangalore left to fend for themselves

However, three days into the incident, not a single politician has turned up at this church or thought of pacifying the tiny Christian community. Neither was the Kannada leadership of the CSI Church keen on taking care of their poor Tamil brethren. It was only on Tuesday afternoon that Bishop Devraj Bangara visited the church to enquire about the incident.

While the most vulnerable segment remained unattended, politicians and ministers have been queuing up at a catholic chapel in the city that was also attacked by the Hindu mob.

8220;We really feel insecure after the attack by the 35-member gang. The total neglect of the political class might be due to our inability to form a vote bank for them,8221; said church pastor Reji Paul.

He said while the Government has deployed adequate police force at all churches in the district, there is only one policeman guarding the Tamil CSI church. The Tamil tag itself is enough to invite the wrath of others.

8220;Even during this crisis, we are yet to get reassurance from the authorities. Neither the local MP nor the MLA visited the church after the attack.8221;

Meanwhile, four stabbing incidents were reported in the area in the past two days. While two Congress workers stabbed a local leader of Sree Ramakrishna Sena on Monday night out of political rivalry, a Christian stabbed a Hindu in the outskirts of the city reportedly to settle personal scores. The Bajrang Dal has called a bandh in Mangalore.

8220;There had been four incidents of stabbing in the last two days; all to settle political and personal rivalries. Miscreants has taken advantage of the situation to foment further trouble in the region,8221; Dakshina Kannada SP N Satheeshkumar told The Indian Express.

He said around 150 Hindus and Christian8217;s have been arrested in connection with the 30-odd cases registered in various police stations.

Bajrang Dal district president M B Puranik said the Congress had ulterior motives behind vitiating the situation. 8220;The attacks on churches and other places of worship were really unfortunate. But, I strongly suspect the dubious intention of the Congress to fish in muddled waters,8221; he said, adding, 8220;Several Congress leaders have joined the Catholic Church to take the protest to the streets.8221;

Opposition leader Mallikarjuna Kharge sought judicial probe into the violence.