Chin Thang from Manipur, working in a mission school in Najota village in Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on the Indo-Nepal border was brutally beaten up by Hindu fanatics on 24 Septe

Chin Thang from Manipur, working in a mission school in Najota village in Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on the Indo-Nepal border was brutally beaten up by Hindu fanatics on 24 September 2006.

According to Pastor Min Thang from Manipur working in a nearby village, a group of 35 men armed with guns and other lethal weapons came to the house of Chin Thang and dragged him out. They also ransacked his house and asked him to vacate. The villagers hearing the noise rushed to the rescue of Chin Thang and chased away the Hindu fanatics.

Chin Thang, along with Thang Boi, another teacher from Manipur, has been teaching in the mission school in the village for the last five years. The villagers, who belong to the Taru tribe, hold Chin Thang and Thang Boi in great respect for their selfless efforts to empower the villagers through education.

Chin Thang and Thang Boi registered a FIR (First Information Report) in Gauri Panta police station in Kheri district on 27 September 2006 against the attackers. Chin Thang and Thang Boi said they had known the leaders of the attackers as the culprits hailed from nearby Lakhimpur and Palliakalan towns.

Other sources said, "It is a matter of interest that from 10 to 16 September 2006, the local newspapers - Amar Jyoti and Dainik Jagran – carried false and instigating reports about heightened Christian missionary activity in Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.

All India Christian Council (aicc) advised Pastor Minthang to seek legal action under the Atrocity Prevention Act of 1989 (Amendment 1995) as both Chin Thang and Thang Boi are the member of  the protected tribes as per the Presidential Order of Schedule Tribe list 1950.

So far neither any arrests have been made nor has any action been taken to protect the school and school teachers. Aicc condemned the hate campaign by the Sangh Parivar and appealed to the authorities to take prompt action against the attackers as per the provisions of the law.