BANGALORE: Police detained a group of Hindus in southern India over weekend attacks on churches, officials said yesterday, as three Indian states ruled by Hindu nationalists struggled to stop attacks on Christians.
The attacks, which have killed some 20 people over the past month, have been condemned by Pope Benedict. Roman Catholic bishops urged the European Union on Sunday to treat persecution of Christians worldwide as a humanitarian emergency.
Police said they were questioning seven Hindus in the southern state of Karnataka, where more than 20 churches have been damaged in the past week.
“They are being questioned and arrests may take place,” said M.R. Pujar, an officer in Bangalore.
Christians blame Hindu fanatics for the attacks in Karnataka and in the states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh as well, where Hindu nationalists either rule outright or share power.
Hindu fanatics say they are determined to fight Christian missionaries they accuse of converting poor Indians.
Christian groups in India have protested against these attacks, blocking roads and shouting slogans in Karnataka and elsewhere, urging the government to act against radical Hindus.
“This government has failed to protect Christians from fanatical Hindu groups,” said M. Kharge, leader of the opposition Congress party in Karnataka, a view echoed by Christian leaders.
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which rules in Karnataka, says the attacks on Christians were politically motivated to discredit the state government.
