Security has been provided at the church in Belagavik after the incident.
Bangalore:
A man armed with a weapon entered a church and chased a priest yesterday afternoon in Belagavi, Karnataka.
In the CCTV footage of the incident, the man is seen chasing Father Francis D’Souza, in-charge of the church, with a knife in his hand. On seeing him, the priest leaves from there. The armed intruder chases him for some time but later runs away. The man is also seen carrying a wire, but it is not clear why he brought it.
On camera, a man armed with a machete enters #Karnataka Church, Chase Priest
Read more: https://t.co/8BZ6s4nw00pic.twitter.com/8EYJklQ6BO— ndtv (@ndtv) December 12, 2021
The incident happened a day before the assembly meeting for the winter session in Belagavi. A bill against conversion, which has been opposed by the opposition and Christian organisations, is to be introduced in the assembly in this session.
Following a police complaint about Sunday’s incident, security has been provided at the church and an investigation has been launched.
A senior police officer told NDTV, “Security cordon has been made around the church. We have CCTV footage. Investigation is on.”
Bangalore Archdiocese spokesperson JA Kantharaj termed the incident as “dangerous and disturbing development”.
In September this year, after a meeting with 30 Hindu religious leaders, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai had said that the state would soon have a law against conversion and the government was looking at such laws in other states to make laws. .
The opposition Congress has opposed the move. State party chief DK Shivakumar has alleged that the purpose of the law is to target Christians and it will come in the way of attracting investment in the state.
Opposing the move, Bengaluru’s Archbishop Peter Machado has written to Chief Minister Bommai and urged him not to promote the law.
He wrote, “The entire Christian community in Karnataka opposes the proposal of the Anti-Conversion Bill in one voice and questions the necessity of such practice when there is adequate legislation and court directions to monitor any deviation from the existing laws.” “
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the Archbishop said that enforcing such laws would violate the rights of citizens, especially minority communities.
The Archbishop wrote, “The Anti-Conversion Bill will become a tool for marginalized elements to take the law into their own hands and vitiate the atmosphere of communal unrest in an otherwise peaceful state.”
He also questioned the Karnataka government’s order to conduct a survey of official and non-official Christian missionaries and institutions and establishments operating in the state.
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