Faith being assaulted -Editorial

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One's faith is a personal affair or a thorny barrier that does not let the bloomed flower to grow. Communities like Bajarandal and VHP claim to be armed warriors who can blow anybody who wish to convert one's faith. The recent uproar of the assault of Walter Masih self-ordained pastor belonging to one of the Protestant sects, made several hearts weep. It questioned a feeble' s survival in the midst of overpowered scavengers. For those who don't know what happened to Walter Masih, here is his overwhelming story.

After the Sunday service on April 29, Walter Masih was attacked by 20 masked men in his house in Nandpuri locality, Jaipur Rajasthan. His terrified wife, Joyce, along with their seven-year-old daughter ran out to seek help, only to find unheeding public. The men smashed everything they could lay their hands on, and beat up Masih mercilessly. One of the person who witness the dreadful sight calls up the police for help, but they landed up nearly after two hours. Aaj Tak, one of the television news channel broadcast the entire event live for most of the day. The reason for such an attack was claimed to be the pastors act to convert people in the nearby Bhojpura slum colony to Christianity. After a week few of the activists were arrested.

With the detailed exposure of the crime on television the police should have strived for the right judgment. However due to their laxity, the anti-conversion warriors plunged into another serious act. The Bajrang Dal activists in Kolhapur brutally assaulted two priests on May 6 in even more brazenly manner that the Jaipur incident.

Anti-conversion law in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh is already enforced, but why is the the government acting as a mute spectator for such an act which, was voted to power by Dalits, minorities and the majority poor. These are the people who hoped that the new Government would at least protect the minorities. Shouldn't the law book the perpetrators of hate crimes and violence against the Christians under the Indian Penal Code and deal strictly with them? Isn't their negligence making the perpetrators not to fear any law?