Maloud, India – Religious tensions in Punjab state increased last week, as police who had taken several Christians into custody, presumably to protect them against Hindu extremists, instead beat them in jail.
From 40 to 50 Christians were praying at a home in Maloud, Mukhtsar district, the night of September 25 when a mob, including members of the Hindu extremist group Bajrang Dal, stormed the house. Led by Lekhraj Batla, president of the Bajrang Dal in Maloud, the mob threatened the Christians and beat some of them.
Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the extremist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council).
The believers called the police, and four of them – Gurdev Singh, Balkaran Singh, Jaswant Singh and Amar Singh, a pastor – were taken into custody, as the mob had turned even more violent.
Drunk Policeman in Charge
At the police station, however, Hukum Chand Sharma, assistant sub-inspector of the Maloud Police station, put them behind bars. Sharma, who was drunk, repeatedly struck the Christians, gravely injuring Gurdev Singh and Amar Singh.
Sharma then sent forces to arrest Pastor Swarnjit Singh, also present at the prayer meeting. But Pastor Singh had just left his home to pray with others for those in jail, so the police arrested Pastor Sukhdev Singh, a guest at his house. Pastor Singh had also attended the earlier prayer meeting.
Police took Sukhdev into custody, and at the jail Sharma beat the 60-year-old pastor, leaving him seriously wounded.
“The police worked hand-in-glove with the Bajrang Dal even before they attacked our meeting,” Pastor Swaranjit said. “Hukum Chand Sharma was fully drunk, and he hit the Christians again and again, saying to them repeatedly, ‘Call your Jesus now, and let me see how he saves you from the wrath of Hukum Chand Sharma.’”
Hospitalized After Release
Police released the Christians the next evening, as according to Indian law a person cannot be detained in custody for more than 24 hours.
“The pastors and the three others were in a bad shape when the police let them off next evening,” Pastor Swaranjit said. “They had not even been treated for the wounds that they had received, so we had to admit them to the hospital straight away.”
Gurdev Singh and Sukhdev Singh remained in the hospital with serious injuries. When Christian leaders of Maloud reported the incident to the senior superintendent of police, he initially paid no heed. But after the Christian delegation persisted in providing him with facts, he asked for an investigation. Results are still awaited.
Jalandhar Clashes
While believers in Maloud were still shaken, another incident on September 26 in the city of Jalandhar disturbed that Christian community.
Members of the Punjab Christian Movement were on their way to the to the city deputy commissioner’s office to submit a written protest against the visit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K.S. Sudarshan when RSS activists and members of its ally, the Yuva Hindu Manch (Platform for Young Hindus), attacked them.
In the ensuing clash, in which each side pelted the other with stones, two RSS activists and five Christians, including a woman, received injuries.
Christians Arrested and Charged
The RSS and its allies publicized news of the two injured activists in local print and electronic media, prompting the Bajrang Dal to go to the extent of threatening an economic boycott of Christians if the authorities did not take action against them.
The senior superintendent of police moved swiftly, arresting five members of the Punjab Christian Movement, including its president, Hamid Masih. The other members arrested were Freddy Joseph, Anil Kumar, Surinder Gill and Lal Chand.
All of them have been charged with attempted murder. If convicted, they could be punished with imprisonment of up to 10 years, and well as fined.
Division Among Christians
Tensions grew as the Roman Catholic Church issued remarks against the Punjab Christian Movement following the incident. In a press conference, Father Emmanuel Y. Diwan, spokesman for Catholic Church, Jalandhar, said the Church had no association with the Punjab Christian Movement and it did not support any of its activities.
He also added that the Catholic Church did not oppose the visit of Sudershan, the RSS chief, to the city.
When Sudarshan visited Jalandhar, he made statements against the minority Muslim and Christian communities, saying that only Jews and Parsis deserved minority status. “Since 99 per cent . . . of Muslims and Christians have been born and brought up in India and are just converts, these two communities should not be given minority status,” he said.