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Schools run by the Christian community continue to be under attack by the right-wing groups in Madhya Pradesh. On December 6, a mob swearing allegiance to the Bajrang Dal, barged into the St Joseph School in Ganj Basoda town of Vidisha district, around 105 km from Bhopal, the state capital.
The mob pelted stones at the building claiming religious conversion of students by the Christian Missionary institution. The dangerous violence took place while the students of Class 12 were sitting for a mathematics exam, reported NDTV. Luckily the children were not hurt and had a narrow escape along with the school staff. But, the fact that the attack took place even as students were appearing for an examination inside the school, showcases how little the attackers actually cared about the students.
The school was reportedly targeted by the Bajrang Dal, after “allegations on social media that as many as eight students were converted by the administration” stated the news reports. The right-wing mob were easily able to enter the St. Joseph School. They alleged “conversions’ on the basis of a fake news spread by a local Youtube Channel named “Aayudh” reported Matters India.
Video clips of the attack went viral on social media on Monday, and showed the massive mobs entering the school campus. They then pelted stones, broke windows and damaged a vehicle.
Hindutva goons attacking on St Joseph’s school in Ganjbasoda, Vidisha Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/92ewtBsjWa
— Ahmed Khabeer احمد خبیر (@AhmedKhabeer_) December 6, 2021
According to news reports, local police were seen trying to disperse the crowd. Recounting the panic as the mob threw stones at the glass windows, a student told the media, “Our concentration was broken, we want the exam to be held again”.
Brother Antony Pynumkal, principal of St Joseph’s School told the media that the allegation of conversion was “fake and baseless.” Belonging to the Malabar Missionary order, Pynumkal said they “received a memorandum on November 30 from some local Hindu groups from Ahirwar, Dangi and Rajput Communities alleging conversion of students”. Pynumkal said that none of the names mentioned in the complaint matches any of the students. He reportedly had also alerted the police and the state administration. However the mobs still managed to collect and attack the school.
The Diocese of Sagar’s PRO Fr. Sabu Puthenpurackal issued a media statement on Monday evening, saying 500 people attacked the Catholic school, and even after the management had informed the police “only two of them were deployed in the school premise when the mob came.”
“They could not do anything,” added Brother Pynumkal. The management had also informed the local police about the right wing’s “memorandum” as well as the ongoing board exams in the school.
According to reports, the St. Joseph Church Ganj Basoda had organised a Holy Communion celebration for the Catholic children of the Parish on October 31. A customary group photo of the Catholic children along with the Bishop and the Parish Priest was published in the Diocesan Monthly e-Newsletter “Sagar Voice” on November 5. This photo was misinterpreted as “conversion of Hindu children” by the Youtube channel Aayudh and that is what fuelled the communal attack on the Christian run school. However, the Catholic children who were in the photo are not students and the parish is some two kilometers away from the school, Pynumkal told the media, adding that the school has around 1,500 students and “less than one percent of them are Christians.”
Last month, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) team, led by its chairman Priyank Kanoongo, conducted a surprise inspection on November 8 at a girls’ hostel at Kheri village in Raisen district, located around 50 kms northeast of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh citing allegations of religious conversion. After the inspection the Commission has reportedly demanded a report within 10 days. The home is run by Catholic nuns, and the NCPCR chief alleged that “religious conversions are suspected” there.
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