Karnataka: Attack on a Church in Mangalore

From: The Times of India

Mangalore prayer hall attacked

MANGALORE: A group of about 10-15 miscreants barged into the compound of Hebron Assembly, Pentecostal Church of God at Haleyangady, about 40km from here, on Wednesday night, hurled stones and damaged its window panes. They also broke open the kitchen door of the pastor's house, adjacent to the hall, and damaged utensils.

Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh who visited the spot told TOI that a few persons were taken into custody on Thursday for questioning . He said no arrests have been made till now.

"None of the persons inside the house were assaulted as they had secured themselves in a room,'' said pastor ID Prasanna. The pastor came ten minutes after the incident. But his mother Deena Kamala , wife Sarah, their daughter Prerna and son Abhishek, his brother Harry Wilson and brother- in-law Anand Kumar were at the house at the time of the attack.

"As soon as the miscreants entered the prayer hall compound and pelted stones, the family members ran into the house and bolted the door. The miscreants tried to break open the front door but could not succeed,'' Prasanna said. "No prayer meeting was being held in the hall at the time of the attack,'' he said.

In 1996, the prayer hall had installed three CCTV cameras at the entrance, verandah and inside the hall _ after receiving threats. Police have taken the CCTV footage.

Crib torched

MANGALORE: A huge Christmas crib at Thumbe Darkhas near here was set on fire by miscreants on Wednesday. The crib was a collective effort by about 30 families in that area, and was put up before the house of Regina Lobo on land belonging to Valerian Fernandes at Darkhas on Thumbe-Benjanapadav Road. SP Labhu Ram said a complaint was registered and investigations are on.