United
News of India, Jalandhar,
April 1, 1998
A
group of youth ransacked a Christian congregation near Grover Colony in the city
last night smashing tuberods, overturning chairs and setting the dais on fire,
forcing the assembly of more than 100 people to flee in panic.
Confirming the incident,
Senior Superintendent of Police Hardeep Singh Dhillon said that a case has been
registered against those named as accused in the First Information Report.
City Deputy
Superintendent of Police R K Sharma, when contacted, said Pawan
Kumar Gagan and Sanjeev
Mahajan had been detained and a case registered for hurting religious sentiments,
damage to property, minor injuries on the complaint of Ajit Masih, a resident
of New Shastri Nagar.
While
the supporters of the accused, who held a dharna outside police station division
No. 5 today, charged the Christian preachers with blasphemy, alleging they were
trying to convert people, Christian alleged that the religious assembly for healing
was attacked without causing any incitement.
Shopkeepers
of Basti Mithu and Basti Guzan observed partial bandh today in protest against
the detention of the youth. District BJP president Vinod Sharma and party former
district president Surinder Murgai charged the Christian preachers with making
provocative discourses.
Chandigarh
Newsline, Indian Express group, Thursday, April 2, 1998
