India: Churches under Police Protection, Catholic Schools Closed, Extremist Hindus Gather

Catholic and Protestant churches are placed under police protection for fear of possible clashes. Every five minutes, a busload of Hindu pilgrims and sadhus arrives. The Hindu meeting is meant to undo the work of Christian missionaries, accused of forced conversions.

JABALPUR, INDIA (AsiaNews) - Churches are under police protection and Catholic schools are closed in Jabalpur until Saturday, after the end of the Narmada Samajik Kumbh gathering, which is expected to draw some two million Hindu radicals.

The meeting, which has been organised by associations that include armed Hindu militants, has pushed Christian and other religious minorities to demand government protection for fear of clashes or violence. The meeting (kumbh) has been called to rid the state of the influence of Christian missionaries, who have been accused of forcibly converting local Tribals.

Fr George Thomas, a Catholic priest, is in charge of a number of missions stations in Mandala (Madhya Pradesh). He went to see the place where the meeting is set to take place. He told AsiaNews that every five minutes a bus arrives full of people, many coming from villages in Madhya Pradesh but also from the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. So far, some 250,000 people, including sadhus (ascetics), have arrived.

"This morning the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mr Shivraj Singh Chauhan, along with RSS leader Mr Mohan Bhagwat came to the kumbh along with other dignitaries. However, since there is heavy police protection, there is apparent peace in the area," Father George said. The RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is an extremist Hindu organisation that has armed militants.

Media are not allowed during the Dharma Sabha (summit). The gathering includes tents and open spaces covering a 14 km2 area that should accommodate some two million people. No motor vehicles are allowed.

Partly because of traffic problems, schools will be closed during the event. The government made the request for security reasons.

"Back in December, the Superintendent of police wrote to schools and other institutions asking them to remain closed during the gathering and host participants. Later, police confirmed that it mistakenly sent the letter to schools," Father George explained.

In the area, there are many churches, "three Catholic churches, three schools, a hospital and a social work centre," Father George said. "The Church of North India also has a century-old church in town, plus four more. All of them are under police protection."