A church in Assam was torched by some unknown radicals, against whom the police have not yet taken any action on this. The incident occurred on October 15 when some 100 people attacked the church at Raidangani Banshichuk village in Lower Majuli, and set it on fire, said Parma Pegu, secretary of the Majuli Christian Forum.

The attackers on the Majuli church were allegedly led by the chief of the Sastra, Janardan Deva Goswami, who claimed Majuli as the place of Vaisnavaite culture where no other religious prayer house can exist. Goswami also allegedly broke the church’s signboard. People accompanying Goswami too threatened to demolish all churches in Majuli, declaring Christianity as unsuited to the Indian culture. As reported by mattersindia.com, Pegu said the growing popularity of Christianity has upset members of Hindu radical groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (world Hindu council), Lok Jagaran Manch (Forum to awaken the masses) and Bajrang Dal (the party of the strong and stout). He said as the BJP has spread its roots in the river island tension tensions between Christians and the Vaisnavaite group have increased.

Pegu said the local Christians remained helpless as the mob torched the church. The party portrays Christianity negatively and the anti-Christian violence increased after Sonowal’s electoral victory, he alleged.

Source: www.mattersindia.com