Bhopal: Five Schools and a church have been attacked following the protest closure of the institutions run by the Christian community in Madhya Pradesh on 29 August 2008. The members belonging to Vishwa Hindu Parisahd, Bajrangdal and other organiations have allegedly carried out these attacks on the schools in Gwaliar and Barwani districts and a church in Gwaliar district. 

Fr John Xaiver, Vicar General of Gwaliar diocese, said,"The protesters came to four of our Christian schools shouting slogans against Christians. Since the police reached in time, the damage was controlled." After visiting the affected schools and the church Advocate Raju Francis, Vice President of the Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh called on the people of Madhya Pradesh to develop courage to face any impending incidents.

The schools attacked in Gwaliar are: Carmel Convent school, St Teresa's School, St Paul School and St Paul Evangelical Lutheran School. Sr Theodoerit, the principal of Carmel Convent School said, "They came and started shouting slogans and breaking whatever was in the vicinity. Christians and policemen came in time and limited the damage." In St Paul Lutheran School, the situation was worse as the school bus parked outside was attacked and damaged, said Rev SP Das, the principal of the school.   Fr Nixon, the principal of St Teresa's School said the miscreants destroyed a lot of things in a short time. They entered the church. Before they could do any thing, the people and the police arrived on the campus and the attackers went away shouting slogans.

In Barvani a large group of VHP and Bajrangdal members came to the school on 28 August 2008 protesting the closure of the school.  Principal Fr Jose PA said,"I have closed the school. I have clearly conveyed this to the protesters that the management will abide by the decisions of the CBCI, the highest decisions making body of the Catholic Church.”

Kurishinkal Joshi, President of the Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh said, "The protest is complete in Madhya Pradesh, as along with the Catholic institutions, the non-Catholic institutions also joined the protest. We had said all our district units to talk to all Christian institutions to close institutions as a mark of our respect towards those who died."

Fr Anand Muttungal, the PRO & Spokesperson of the Catholic Council of Bishops and coordinator of the MP Isai Mahasangh said, "We must not be happy with the closure of institutions but continue to help the victims. We are holding a Srandhanjali Sabha to pay our respect to the deceased and ask God's blessing to face all situations. After this a vehicle rally will be taken out to the Madhya Pradesh Congress Party State Head Office in Bhopal. We will submit a memorandum addressed to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. This is to appeal to the Central Government to initiate steps to contain the violence."

Bhopal district president of the MP Isai Mahasabha Antony John said, "The Congress seems to be equally responsible for the worst situation in Orissa. It took long time to act and gave the rioters time to attack more Christians."

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