Police refuse to acknowledge it as a place of worship, consequently not filing a case against the culprits.
Team Clarion
JHABUA – In an unsettling incident, a Hindutva mob on Sunday hoisted a saffron flag carrying a picture of Ayodhya’s Ram temple on a church in this city of Madhya Pradesh.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video surfaced on social media platforms capturing Hindutva elements placing the flags atop the church amidst chants of “Jai Shri Ram.”
The church, established in 2016 according to its pastor, Narbu Amaliyar, serves as a place of worship for approximately 30-40 people who gather for prayers every Sunday. Pastor Amaliyar expressed shock at the incident, stating, “This happened at around 3 pm after the Sunday prayer. Around 25 men arrived out of nowhere, chanting Jai Sri Ram slogans.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, local police have refused to recognise the targeted building as a place of worship, consequently not filing a case. Superintendent of Police Agam Jain asserted, “Our team visited the site on Sunday evening. We inquired about what happened. This was a person’s home. It wasn’t a church. So we didn’t file an FIR. The person didn’t want to file a complaint, so no complaint has been filed yet.”
Pastor Amaliyar contested the police stance. “It is a church I started back in 2016. Every Sunday, 30-40 people come here for prayers. It’s a place of worship. My home is separate,” he said.
The pastor also mentioned receiving an apology from the Hindutva group responsible for the incident. However, he remains undecided about filing a police complaint and plans to discuss the matter with the village sarpanch before making a decision.
This incident has raised concerns about religious tolerance and respect for places of worship, prompting a broader conversation about the need for understanding and harmony among diverse communities.
