Posted by on April 02, 19102 at 12:13:40:
HONORABLE PETER T. KING
In the United States House of Representatives
Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the House that this past Tuesday a
Catholic priest was found beheaded in Bihar, India, apparently for simply helping Untouchables. I not
only deplore this tragedy but urge the Government of India to rectify this situation and end the
persecution of religious minorities.
I submit for the Record two news articles describing this horrible crime and the persecution of Christians
by Indian police.
NEW YORK TIMES, THURSDAY, OCT. 30,
NEW DELHI, Oct. 29 (AP)--A Catholic priest was found beheaded in a forest in
northern India, apparently killed for helping untouchables, colleagues said today.
A search party from the Australian-run mission that employed the priest, the Rev.
A.T. Thomas, found his body Monday near Sirka, Bihar, three days after he was
abducted.
He was the third Catholic clergyman killed in two years in Bihar, where
caste-based gang wars have killed hundreds of people.
Father Thomas, an Indian, had established 15 schools and health projects for
untouchables.
THE TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE, OCT. 27,
Ludhiana, October 26--The police opened fire in the air and resorted to a lathi
charge to disperse an agitated mob of Christians last night as many as 19
policemen, including a DSP and nine Christians were injured in the brickbatting
and lathi charge. Two vehicles were also damaged. The Christians had started a
five-day programme on `Jesus Christ is the answer' festival from October 22 to
October 26 on the Chandigarh Road. They claimed that they were holding their
prayers and thousands of Christians were participating in the same. On the other
hand BJP activists of the Shiv Sena and the Bajrang Dal objected to the holding
of the festival alleging that the Christians were resorting to conversions and
indulging in `magical healing.' The administration on the first day withdrew
permission to hold the festival but on the assurance that no magical healing would
be done and no conversions would take place, it relented. However, groups
opposed to the holding of the festival continued their protest dharna near the
venue of the festival. The police had made elaborate security arrangements.
According to a spokesperson for the Christians, the district administration
yesterday forced them to wind up the festival as tension was brewing up in the
town. He said that onOctober 22 an attempt was made to set the venue on fire
and electric lights were damaged. But the administration did not take any action
against the rioters. He said as the announcement for the cancellation of the
festival was made the youngster started a dharna on the Chandigah Road. The
Police lathi-charged them and chased them to the CMC Chowk where other
Christians had collected in protest against the cancellation of the festival. The
spokesman said a deputation of the Christians had also met the Chief Minister,
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, at a village in Muktsar district two days ago and
apprised him of the situation. The SSP, Mr. Dinkar Gupta, said as many as 19
policemen were injured in the brickbatting. He said the police force was
outnumbered at the CMC Chowk and had resort to a lathi charge and open fire in
the air to protect themselves.