BHOPAL, India, 5 June 2006 — Two Christian women were allegedly gang raped while a church was attacked by Hindu activists in Madhya Pradesh on May 28. The incident took place in the Nadia village of Khargone district of the state. The attack took place around 10 in the night.
Ms. Indira Iyengar, member of the Madhya Pradesh State Minorities Commission and president of Madhya Pradesh Christian Association, in a statement has alleged that a local BJP legislator, Dal Singh Solanki, instigated the miscreants to rape the women. She said Solanki had been repeatedly threatening Christians with attack, accusing them of proselytizing.
Even though the women have named the five rapists, the police have not taken any action. The central state of Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party.
Meanwhile, after two years in prison, 16 Christians accused of murder, attempted murder and arson were exonerated by a Madhya Pradesh court, citing invented testimonies and lack of evidence. The Alirajpur trial court in the state’s Jhabua district announced the verdict on May 31, according to media reports.
The 16 people were taken into custody after clashes between Christians and Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members that took place in January 2004 after the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in a school run by the church.
Arun Pal, believed to be an RSS member, was killed and 10 others received injuries. Subsequently, the police charged 16 Christians under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code. They were denied bail both by the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court.
The judge absolved the 16 people from all charges against them for lack of evidence. The court also found that testimonies produced by the prosecution had been deliberately fabricated and manipulated.
