Masked men vandalise church in Punjab's Tarn Taran, CM Mann orders probe
Amritsar/Chandigarh(PTI): Four masked men allegedly vandalised a church in a village close to the Indo-Pak border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in Takkarpura village of Patti town on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, they said.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly condemned the incident and ordered a probe into the matter, asserting that nobody will be allowed to disturb brotherhood and harmony in the state.
Four masked men entered the church, pointed a pistol at the watchman's head and tied up his hands before vandalising the church. They also broke two idols and burnt the pastor's car before leaving, the police said.
CCTV cameras installed inside the church captured the incident.
After the incident, a police team led by Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran, Ranjit Singh Dhillon reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Heavy police deployment has been made in the area, the police said.
A case has been registered in the matter and efforts are on to arrest those behind the incident, Dhillon said.
Ordering a probe into the incident, Mann said strict action will be taken against those involved in it.
A group of Christians held a protest against the vandalisation of the church and blocked all routes leading to Khemkaran, Bhikhiwind, Patti, Harike and Ferozepur.
The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the accused.
SSP Dhillon, who reached the protest site, assured the agitators that the culprits will be arrested soon.
"It is a conspiracy by some mischievous elements who wanted to disturb peace in the state," the SSP said.
"We have taken stock of the situation and are investigating the matter. We will soon catch those who were behind this incident," he added.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also condemned the incident.
He said such incidents are deliberate attempts by some mischievous elements to break the country and divide people.
The incident comes a day after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned alleged efforts being made in Punjab for religious conversions by "some so-called Christian missionaries".
They also demanded the withdrawal of an FIR against some Nihang Sikhs who were booked for allegedly disrupting an event organised by Christian missionaries at Daduana village in Amritsar on Monday.
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CT Ravi warns of 'Belagavi Chalo Movement' if inaction on attempted murder complaint
Chikkamagaluru: Former Karnataka Minister and BJP MLC CT Ravi has accused the state Congress government of selective justice and threatened to launch a "Belagavi Chalo" movement if no action is taken against those who allegedly attempted to assassinate him.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Ravi alleged that the state government, led by Congress, operates on the "Hammurabi doctrine" rather than adhering to the Constitution. He criticized the swift police response to a complaint filed against him by Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar while claiming inaction on his own complaint regarding an alleged assassination attempt.
"Does the CM believe I don’t have the right to seek justice under the law? Should I also send goons to get justice?" Ravi questioned. He demanded a judicial investigation into the incident to uncover the truth.
Ravi alleged that he was detained and taken to "mysterious places" by Karnataka State Police, who acted on instructions from undisclosed sources. "I told them to record the calls they received during this operation," he added.
He stated his intent to pursue legal recourse, file complaints with the Human Rights Commission, and ensure those involved in the alleged murder attempt are held accountable. "An FIR has not been filed yet on my complaint. If action isn’t taken, we will launch the Belagavi Chalo movement," Ravi warned.
