Two churches attacked in Karnataka

Two churches were attacked and the statue of Mother Mary was damaged on Monday in Mysore and in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka.

Culprits broke the statue of Mother Mary on the compound wall of the Holy Family Church at Hinkal village in the wee hours in Mysore district, police said.

In the other incident, glass panes covering the statue of Mother Mary was broken at St Anthony's Church at Pernamakki in Uttara Kannada district.

Police said the statue was not damaged. This is the second such attack in Uttara Kannada district after the Mundahalli church was targeted on January 22.

The Holy Family church had come under attack in 2002 also when some locals vandalised it alleging forcible conversions were taking place there.

Culprits had made a vain attempt to break the cash chest at the church late last year, Mysore Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal told PTI.

"We have already started investigation and are hopeful of booking the culprits soon," Agarwal said.

In Bengaluru, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa directed the police to investigate and nab the culprits. Police, who pressed sniffer dogs into service in both the churches, provided security to them.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R V Deshpande, who condemned the attacks, alleged such incidents were on the rise after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state.

"If the CM cannot control the attacks and arrest the culprits, he has no moral right to continue and should better resign," he said.

Meanwhile, Global Christian Association and Konkan Christian Association have also condemned the attack.