A Spiritual Journey -Michael Graham.

Perhaps the most rapidly expanding form of spirituality today in the Western world is Yoga and Meditation. Actually the two words belong together. Today, practised in its many forms, yoga promises physical wellbeing and spiritual growth. But for the yogis of old, the mystics of the ancient East, Yoga was far more than a life style choice; theirs was an ardent quest for Enlightenment--a release from all bonds of suffering and unsatisfactoriness both here and beyond the grave--a reach for Ultimate Truth.

The word yoga actually means: to be yoked to or united with God or Ultimate Reality. The word refers to both an end and an activity. In its active form it involves the practice of a variety of techniques, both physical and mental. There are up to fourteen types of yoga, each with different practices designed to lead to the desired goal.

I was one such person captivated by the promises and practices of yoga from a young age. The quest that I undertook threw me into a heady world leading to many remarkable personal encounters and mystical experiences. 

On one particular day I was astounded. I found myself right in the middle of what is regarded in the Indian spiritual tradition as the classic fourth state of consciousness called the Turiya¹ state. The yogis consider it to be  one of the marks of Enlightenment, existing beyond the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep that are familiar to all people. I’d read about it, but to have the experience was quite another thing. My attention was riveted. It was as though I had entered another reality. Though my surroundings looked the same, every trace of the weight and sting of life had vanished.

The first sign of its appearance was a widening of my field of vision. Fascinated, I walked a few paces into a room where two men were talking. One was standing; the other was seated leaning against a wall. They were fixed in earnest conversation. As I watched them they seemed no more real than puppets in a puppet show. The meaning and significance of their conversation was as nothing. Every sense in me was alive; the people and the physical environment were as I’d known them, but the sense of “realness” was gone. Nothing of the human condition with its concerns remained.

The veil of ignorance had lifted and from this new perspective life wasn’t what it seemed to be. It was more like a dream--a mere apparency. Half an hour passed and this perception started to close down. Was this the Ultimate Truth?—no, not even in this tradition. That realization and beyond was to be realized later, and is described in the book I have written, of which this booklet is a short synopsis.

Many adventures were to follow.

So, this quest for Truth began at the age of sixteen. I began reflecting on the meaning and significance of life at a time when I was unclear about my interests and future direction and was restlessly unable to chart my course.

My father was a doctor, a psychoanalyst and something of a philosopher. Two books on the Eastern spiritual tradition, from the shelves of his huge library grabbed my attention. They promised a life free of suffering, personal transformation and an experience of the Highest Truth. That was enough for me. I had found what I was looking for.

By the time I was twenty-two, after motorcycling throughout Sri Lanka and India and having high adventures in Afghanistan, then traveling all the way across to London, I returned to India to the ashram, or abode, of Swami Muktananda Paramahansa. He was a guru. He came to me on very strong recommendation as one whose mere touch or presence could transform a person’s life.

Upon my arrival, he was away. Thankfully, within a few days he was due back. About twenty-five of us assembled outside the front of the ashram to greet him on his return. There was an American, an Englishman and myself, an Australian. The others were Indians.

The first sign of his arrival was the honking sound of a Klaxon horn. A blue, 1962 Mercedes Benz pulled up, and out stepped a handsome sixty-year-old man in silk orange robes, wearing gold-rimmed sunglasses. This was not quite the image of a holy man that I’d imagined. Muktananda glanced at me as he swept through the crowd of prostrating Indians, lightly kicking them with his feet saying, “look out, look out, this is a fast train” (someone translated that to me).

Within two days I had a private audience with him. He probably spoke no more than forty words of English. Through a translator, I told him that I had come to have my meditation fixed. All attempts to meditate successfully in Australia had failed. Instead of settling down into a quiet state, I’d become positively knotted up. He simply said, “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

A week passed, and I was meditating all alone in the meditation room, on a real tiger’s skin. All of a sudden I was startled. Muktananda was standing over me. He stroked both cheeks, passed his palm over my forehead, turned on his heels and left. It took all of three seconds. Well, I thought that was wonderful. The guru had touched me and I knew that was supposed to be auspicious. I expected something to happen. It didn’t. Each day thereafter, Baba (as we affectionately called him), would ask me in his few words of English, “Good meditation?” “No Baba,” I would reply. This must have gone on every day for a week; his asking me and my saying no. I got a bit frustrated.

A few days passed and I was not to be disappointed. One afternoon, while meditating all alone, a strange phenomenon began. All of a sudden my body began to revolve in a circular motion. I thought to myself, “How interesting.” I’d stop it, and off it would go again. Up to this point whenever my body moved, it was I that moved it. With each minute that passed this movement grew stronger and stronger. I was delighted. I knew that I had received the “awakening” that Muktananda was distinguished for being able to activate--the awakening of   kundalini² or the divine power within. All the while I was in a cool state of mind, watching with fascination. No suggestion or hysteria were involved.

This was the awakening of the Kundalini Shakti³, an intelligent aspect of the life force itself, which lay “asleep” or dormant in potential until awakened through the guru’s grace. It was to be surrendered to or given over to, since it was the spontaneous “grace-driven” means to Self-realization--a most attractive concept. In the fullness of time one would be cleansed of all impurities that veiled the recognition of one’s true identity as being identical to the Supreme Reality--Brahman.

Some days later a Canadian chap turned up. We decided to go and meditate together. As we sat, he began to recite the famous Twenty-Third Psalm: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. Even though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” I remembered that from a light Christian enculturation during my schoolboy days. Being deeply moved by its beauty, that second, the “awakening” that had begun a few days before, exploded into ten times its power. I was flung down and started crawling my way across the floor, growling like a lion, with the strength of ten men coursing through me. It was not as any ham actor could do; it was devastatingly real. I was amazed. I didn’t resist it, since that wouldn’t have been the idea. The poor Canadian chap (as he told me later) had never seen anything like it. He commented that the nearest thing he’d seen to it was an LSD⁴  drug freak-out; but this was something else!  He was scared out of his wits and was trying to settle down the situation by repeating the mantra⁵, guru om, guru om, over and over.

From that day on, whenever I gave over to the “awakening”, there was continuous spontaneous activity. There were  powerful breathing rhythms (pranayama), movement into classic dance formations, vigorously executed hatha⁶ yoga-like postures, utterances like the sound of different birds so real sounding, speaking in an unknown language, weeping bitterly in one second then laughing hysterically in the next with nothing to weep or laugh about, cross-legged hopping across the ground like a frog juddering of the body, classical hand gestures  (mudras), the seeing of inner lights, journeys out of the body and innumerable other experiences. It wasn’t as though I was tuning in to some impulse to move in a certain way and going with it, as in psychodrama. It just grabbed me in a powerful non-volitional (spontaneous) manner and moved me about. And there were moments of “dynamic” stillness. The predominantly physical manifestations were called kriyas⁷.  They were said to have a purifying effect, but as to why some of the more bizarre manifestations took the form that they did only theories could be given.

All this was set into a typical Eastern framework of thinking. Muktananda would say, “God dwells within you as you,”--the inner self or Brahman or God were identical. Sadhana⁸ or spiritual practice consisted of faith in the guru as the Self-Realized master. It required surrender to his person and to his instructions, singing chants in the Sanskrit⁹ language to his glory, and devotional service. Its purpose was spiritual purification leading to the experience of one’s own divinity, called Self-realization or Enlightenment.

This particular path was SiddhaYoga; the word Siddha meaning “perfected being”, and yoga meaning, “yoked to God”. So this was the union with God that was to take place through the grace of the perfected Master.

It sounded like an appealing truth. It was promising. It had an engine that moved things.

So I stayed on in the ashram for five and a half months, participating in the rigorous daily routine. We’d arise at four in the morning for ninety minutes of meditation. If you were fortunate enough to receive the “awakening”, you’d surrender to its workings as a dispassionate witness. If it had yet to stir in you, you’d sit in formal meditation repeating the Guru’s mantra, Soham meaning, “He I am” or “I am God”, in the hope that it would happen soon.  That was the understanding in those days. However, instructions changed over the years.  Then we took a cup of chai; a spicy Indian tea. This was followed by ninety minutes of chanting the Bhagavad Gita¹⁰ in Sanskrit. Then we were off into the beautiful gardens or marble courtyard to do a couple of hours of work, a form of devotional service to the Guru, followed by thirty minutes of chanting the mantra, Om Namah shivaya (meaning: I bow to Shiva) before lunch. I called it “Hindu army chow”--delicious. Then there was a one-hour voluntary chant followed by another two hours of work, followed by forty-five minutes of meditation before dinner. Finally, a sixty-minute chant was sung before we collapsed into bed at 9 p.m. Phew! Not a routine for the faint hearted. This went seven days a week, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year. It was like something you might find in an eleventh century Benedictine¹¹ monastery.

This path of spirituality became my core spiritual practice for the next sixteen years. I returned to India many times. I spent a total of four years in the country. But despite all the amazing spiritual experiences, signs and wonders (many more of which are described in my book), my deepest hopes for inner fulfillment were unmet. But the dynamism and apparent intelligence of that “awakening” had me tantalized.

At the same time, I had been casting around for supplementary means to add to this Eastern practice that might have opened a crack to the light I had been looking for.

So, in the seventies, eighties and nineties I did a number of the leading edge personal development programs of the day: Landmark Education (once called EST, then Forum), a sort of no nonsense pragmatic¹² spiritual boot camp and Silva Mind Control, a get-down-into-low-brain-wave process, heal people, throw open some doors of psychic perception, and reprogram yourself for success, type of program. Then there was The Hoffman Quadrinity Process, an expensive turbo-expunging of impeding parent-induced past psychological impressions. And then I studied and sought to practice A Course in Miracles (a book) a very well developed argument for transcendence, which I buried into for a year with great discipline. I was intrigued by the observation: that though I understood and believed something, I would continue to think, feel, act and perform as though I’d never heard of it. My other friends on the Course had the same experience. I was starting to discover that the mere cognitive approach to transformation is impotent to do anything much. 

I saw a gain here and there. Whenever I was exposed to a new perspective, information, data or technique, there would be a slight shift, just enough to lead to an increase of interest. Then there would be a plateau, a falling off and then a “what’s next?” Within days there was always a leak-back to the old familiar self. This stuff wasn’t delivering on its promise. I wasn’t a dilettante¹³. I usually drilled down close to the bottom of these things, enough to see whether I was dealing with iron pyrites¹⁴(fool’s gold) or something more substantial. My basic Siddha Yoga practice kept on as the mainstay.

In 1982 Swami Muktananda died. Shortly thereafter, for one tour, I fell into the role as one of the international tour managers of one of his two successors, the young Swami Nityananda. Months after I left this work a “coup” took place. Gurumayi, his sister and co-successor ousted him, for unseemly gallivanting, among other things. The whole affair unfolded like a palace intrigue that Shakespeare would have made something of.

At this time I was in New York and got a call from an Australian friend who’d just landed a huge Corporate Cultural Change contract with Australia’s second largest company, Telecom Australia. He asked me Down Under, and together with a team of five others we put together a broad range of personal and organizational development strategies to set Telecom up for success in an emerging competitive telecommunications market place. It consisted of facilitating the creation of a corporate Vision Statement, establishing Core Values, defining Company Objectives and delivering a range of personal development strategies, such as customer service orientation, communication skills, negotiation skills, possibility thinking, goal setting, belief engineering and so on. I believe it was the biggest corporate programs of its type ever undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere¹⁵.

By now I’d had a broad and deep experience of the Eastern “Old Age” movement out of India, the pragmatic world of corporate consulting and the “New Age” personal development trainings.

Further, in 1988 and still a dedicated spiritual practitioner, I spotted this program called Avatar®, created by a fellow called Harry Palmer. It was a belief management program, not dissimilar in theory to what we’d taught corporately. But this guy claimed that he had the techniques that could really make the difference. Up till then I had found that core beliefs were not amenable to change. This was a “create your preferred reality” program. Beliefs are real forces; they determine the way you think, feel, behave and perform; change your beliefs and thereby change your life!

So I jumped on a plane for Los Angeles and found myself in the home of Marilyn Ferguson, author of the million- copy best seller book The Aquarian conspiracy. She was a participant along with me and nine others. It was an expensive course at two thousand dollars. It included tea and biscuits but no meals or accommodation. It went for four or five days. How interesting; one of the facilitators was Ingo Swann; a man I’d heard had the most accurate strike rate among psychics tested by Stanford University under controlled conditions. He’d been their research subject for sixteen years and later worked twelve years for the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) experimenting with Remote Viewing (visual perception beyond the range of bodily senses) procedures. I got to know Ingo well and stayed with him in New York City. He was teaching this course quite independently of his psychic abilities. He’s no longer associated with Avatar.

The course was impressive. I experienced a temporary expansion of awareness and a peacefulness for a time. Knots inside me that I didn’t know were there unraveled. It was looking good. I was sufficiently impressed to fly to New York, spend another three thousand dollars for nine days of training so I could deliver the program under license.

I became one of the more successful teachers of Avatar around the world, delivering the program in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, USA and Canada. Further to this, I delivered my own program, the Decision Principle Training® in France as well. It proposes decision as the first principle of existence. 

Palmer’s top Avatar course was called Wizards®. At seventy-five hundred dollars it promised the dominion of the gods. It didn’t deliver.

But again, with all this, the substance wasn’t to the level required. Nevertheless, those years 1988 through 1993 were kind to me. All the time I’d kept meditating.

Now, some of this work wasn’t silly. There were some accurate observations, coherent thought systems, ingredients of truth and some clever techniques that created effects. I was often grateful and never felt cheated, but admittedly nothing I’d discovered came close to the claims made for it. There were experiences, insights and shifts, but nothing sustainable. Further there were some absolutely spectacular spiritual experiences described and elaborated on in my book.

By now, I had many years of experience, thousands of hours of meditation, charismatic¹⁶ phenomena, study, and the company of spiritual luminaries¹⁷. By providence, I had arrived at these people’s doorsteps before most people in the West had heard of them. To name some: Swami Muktananda, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), Rudi (later, Swami Rudrananda), Sathya Sai Baba, Anandamayi Ma, U.G. Krishnamurti, HWL Poonja, J. Krishnamurti, Douglas Harding , Barry Long and Sailor Bob (with whom I ran a seminar). There were a couple of others. Israel Regardie, the esoteric writer, was a family friend. I was influenced by the works of Alan Watts, Wei Wu Wei, Franklin Merrell Wolffe; and then there were the Christian mystics. So, it went on. It sounds a bit like a dilettante’s line-up. But I do believe my walk was characterized by a considerable degree of discipline and application and it wasn’t too much to cover over a twenty-eight year span.

I observed over the years, that people had different motives for following a guru or getting involved in such groups. Some sought personal development or victory over personal limitations. I was partially motivated by this. Some sought community; for others it was a life style choice. Some wanted position and power. Others wanted to be loved. Yet others were spiritual hedonists¹⁸ thirsting for the next experiential high. Being looked after was a priority for some. And the search for meaning may have been high among the reasons. In most people, motives were probably mixed, and not thoroughly reflected upon. Very few, I believe, went looking for wheat that it might be divided from the chaff. What was of interest to me, was what was actually true or false amidst all this. The Buddha repudiated¹⁹ the Vedic²⁰ scriptures. Shankaracharya, the eighth century Vedantic²¹ Master, repudiated the Buddha’s teaching, putting a huge dent in Buddhism on the Indian subcontinent from which it never recovered. Ramanuja, another Vedantic Master from the twelfth century repudiated Shankaracharya’s view of Ultimate Truth and so it went, ad nauseam. Lord Chaitanya of the sixteenth century from the Lord Krishna tradition, repudiated the lot of them, declaring as heresy, the “I am God” statements of some of the others. This wasn’t just mean spirited.  They believed that the objects of their critiques were teaching error.

I noticed that many contemporary seekers had no concept of error and seemed to swallow all they were told, hook, line and sinker, without discrimination or sufficient reflection.

Actually, I didn’t go into all this stuff, preoccupied, as though with a magnifying glass, like a truth sieve. I was openly interested, but with due reflection, learning where I could and tending to trial things experientially to see what was of substantive value or just ephemeral²². My life has been like a laboratory experiment but lived out in a very un-clinical manner.

With all this under my belt--exposure to luminaries, the spiritual experiences, and understanding I’d developed, I still believed that breaking through the Gates of Heaven in a sustainable way was possible. I took what I had been given in personal revelation and the best of what I had been exposed to: the Muktananda “awakening” described earlier, (which, by some mystery, I was able to powerfully transmit to others) and more. I put it all together calling it The Reality Training, fully believing that this amalgam of practices would build the momentum for breakthrough.

By now, for some reason, I’d become weary of trying to excite others’ interest in this or that program. So, as my professional life as a deliverer of personal development training, meditation teaching and corporate consulting started to wind down, so did my personal spiritual practice start to increase.

I’d begin my day in Melbourne Australia, at 4:30 a.m. with sixty minutes of meditation followed by a thirty-minute contemplation, then forty minutes of chanting the Guru Gita²³--a Sanskrit language text referring to the guru’s teaching and virtues. I’d end with forty-five minutes of surrendering to the spontaneous workings of the “awakening”. From time to time, friends would bang on my door and join me for this early-morning vigil.

As if this weren’t enough, I decided to go into isolation. Since my late teens, I had thought of this as an interesting experiment and had never had the chance to do it. Now was the time. At the back of my home was a tiny apartment. I asked an accommodating friend to fashion wooden panels to cover the windows and a trap door through which food could be passed. I was sealed up thus, and spent ten days in there. Great; I came out on a Monday and it was as though, through new eyes, that the world sparkled. By Tuesday the old familiar perception had returned.

Seeing some potential here, I repeated the experiment some time later. On the second day a remarkable event took place.

I was settling myself onto a couch. I was in a completely ordinary state of mind—no meditation; nothing like that, and suddenly the image of Jesus Christ formed up within my chest cavity. And with this image came the conviction of who it was. One second following, there was an experience beyond all words can tell. If I were to step it down into the poverty of language, there was an openness and love coming from Jesus to me, of cosmic proportions, and an invitation and a welcome, as if to say “Give me your life and breath and I’ll take care of you.” Well, I was staggered, amazed, delighted all at once. The absolute and ultimate nature of that love was its feature. It was utterly real and personal, but I didn’t know how to respond. I was so committed and used to the Eastern oriented understanding and practice that I kept doing precisely that. This encounter, however, I could never forget.

A year passed and I’d gone to Berkeley, California to conduct introductory programs for The Reality Training I’d created. Here a second significant event took place. What happened was this: Over a three-day period, as if pressed  into me from outside myself, came the conviction that everything I had done, the thousands of hours of meditation, the realizations and spiritual experiences, had all added up to a  huge fat zero. It was a though a twenty-eight year investment had tipped over. It felt as though I’d been trying to draw water out of an empty well. Wow! I was sobered. “Well,” I thought, “I’ll just run plum ordinary now, and live out my span and do what I can. Simple.”

However, at the time I was doing a twenty-five minute run in the car to Marin County near San Francisco each day. I kept catching these evangelical preachers on the radio teaching the historic faith from the Bible. They were good speakers. It was a bit interesting and besides I was interested in the five Great Traditions (unlike the cults), that had stood the test of time: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. So, here was Christianity being explained better than I’d heard it before, at least the biblically oriented form of it. At first I was noticing the similarities between elements of the Eastern and Christian teaching and worldviews; then it became the differences that got my attention. Listening to the broadcasts themselves, plus sending away for the tapes advertised on the radio over the next few months, I must have put a couple of hundred hours of this information through me.

With still no contact with Christians I was now being educated to the first principles of Christianity. I noted the claims Christ made for himself; his claim to Deity²⁴, and the promises he made--it really got my attention. Thus, remembering my personal encounter with him, having been reduced to nothing, and therefore having nothing to lose, I resolved to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Yikes! Those words seemed uncomfortably religious to me. No matter.

This was going to be the most important decision I’d ever made. I knew about decision: its power, place and importance. I’d taught my Decision Principle® Training around the world. I could have made the decision in my living room, but I wanted to make a marker of this one.

I’m still not a Christian. So I see a billboard promoting Billy Graham coming to town. I’d heard of him, the biggest evangelist of the Twentieth Century. I thought he was dead. “What a perfect opportunity to make a decision in front of thousands of witnesses,” I thought.

This was 1997. So with considerable anticipation I awaited the day of his arrival.  At the appointed hour I was probably the first one at the stadium and mounted the stands. He talked. When he invited people down to make that decision for Christ, down I went and was so close to the podium that I could have almost polished his shoes. When the moment came to decide, I made that decision, surely, definitely, no turning back.

It was from that moment, I was never the same again. It happened silently, undramatically. I knew what it meant to be born again (that strange phrase). A peace came over me that was back of feelings and experiences. With it came new meaning and purpose and above all there came a substantive change of heart and mind, which had eluded me throughout all those years of experience, meditation practice and charismatic phenomena. And this had come as a pure gift of the Grace of Christ independent of all my efforts or practice.

What do I mean by a change of heart and mind? Well, my temperament or disposition started to soften and change, among other things. I noticed it; my son noticed it. That was good enough for me. The seeker had died. I’d come to rest. Perhaps I could have used terms like that in the past, but no, this was new coin. And the old Michael Graham would have said, “Yes, I know what you mean,” and I would have had to reply, politely of course, “No, you don’t.” You see, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

So, here I was having found my sufficiency in Christ--no supplementation required. “In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” as the Bible states.

And my attitude toward the concept of God changed substantially, was renewed and made proper.

Further, the Bible as a text came alive to me with a quality and a texture unlike other written works of an intellectual or spiritual nature. It became to me like sweet milk and meat to the soul. This didn’t mean that I had to like everything it said. Nevertheless I believed it. The adjustment had to be mine. I was no longer on the throne as arbiter of all truth. I had submitted myself to Christ and the living Word. This was quite a leap, and as I came to observe later, becomes a mark of someone who has enjoyed a genuine turnaround in Christ or conversion. 

So here I was, reading the Bible with new eyes, spending time in prayer, listening to excellent expository²⁵ preaching and enjoying church fellowship. What a change. This was a U-turn such that I couldn’t believe possible.

Now this was a radical turnaround—a turnaround at the root and a most surprising one at that. Nothing else but the Holy Spirit, not the spirit of the kundalini Shakti, or the spirit of the guru, could penetrate to the core of my ruin. What was the fruit of Christ’s Grace? Rest—existential rest—a rest pertaining to my existence, most assuredly superior to any passing interior states or dance of marvels on the periphery of my being--the yield of the cosmic conjurings²⁶--the dance of Shiva²⁷.

So I walk on in gratitude. With a thorough basis for comparison I cannot hesitate to declare the preeminence and supremacy of Christ, his Grace and the super-abundant sense of life He imparts to those who enter into a personal and trusting relationship with Him.

He said, “Come to me all those who are weary and heavily laden and I will give you rest.” He said, “I am the Way, Truth and the Life”; “I am the light of the world”, and “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.” And he said, “Whoever drinks the water I shall give him, will become in him, a fountain of water springing up to Eternal Life.” He also declared, “I am the Alpha²⁸ and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Further, he said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me.”

His invitation beckons! The “God”-word was big in those days, yet he pointed to himself as having a special saving relationship to the world. He wasn’t speaking as the “Christ Consciousness” or as the “Christ Michael” or any other contemporary, fashionable or mystic phantom, but as the once historic and now ever present eternal figure of Jesus Christ, “…the same yesterday, today and forever.”

I’ve been around. I’ve seen a lot. Only pride would bar one from reaching for this marvelous Grace by turning to him, who, on that cross at Calvary, consumed in one cosmic act of sacrifice, the groaning momentum of sin (and “karmas”²⁹) that bind all persons interminably to an eternal separation from God.

This is not a light and fluffy subject. It warrants deep reflection. Its ramifications³⁰ extend into life, the mystery of death and beyond. Take in more. That is why I have written the book titled “The Experience of Ultimate Truth”.  It takes you on a ride beyond the veil and into the depths of this subject such that you might responsibly consider what’s at stake and perhaps be pointed towards “The peace that passes all understanding” and the “Truth that sets you free.” 

Clearly, it is beyond the scope of this short account to trace out most of the incredible reasons to consider placing one’s trust in Christ. But it is the story of how one man did so and thereby found inner peace. Read on…

Michael Graham.

WORD DEFINITIONS:

1  Turiya: Sanskrit - fourth state of consciousness.

2 Kundalini: Sanskrit - coiled, as in coiled serpent.

3 Kundalini Shakti: coiled/sleeping spiritual power within. Outwardly expressed as the Divine Mother in Hinduism.

4 LSD: psychedelic drug leading to hallucinations.

5 Mantra: Sanskrit - thought or mental devise intended to 'to free from the mind'.

6 Hatha yoga: a form of yogic practice focused physical postures and breathing procedures.

7 Kriya: Sanskrit - 'action', refers here to outward physical manifestations of awakened kundalini.

8 Sadhana: Sanskrit - 'practice', means of Self-realization.

9 Sanskrit: ancient language of the Vedic and other Indian scriptures.

10 Bhagavad Gita: Sanskrit - 'song of God'. India's most well renowned scripture featuring a dialogue between Lord       Krishna and Arjuna, his disciple.

11 Benedictine: an ancient order of Christian monks

12 Pragmatic: of practical worth (as opposed to idealistic). Impacts something.        

13 Dilattante: one who just dabbles in things - amateurish.   

14 Iron Pyrites: a mineral found in the ground often mistaken for gold.

15 Southern Hemisphere: the area and countries below the Equator.

16 Charismatic: in spiritual terms, spiritual experiences and manifestations (as opposed to there being none)

17 Luminaries: people who influence and inspire others.

18 Hedonist: a pleasure seeker.

19 Repudiate: reject, disown, or protest.

20 Vedic, Veda: Sanskrit - 'knowledge'. Particular ancient Indian scriptures.

21 Vedanta: Sanskrit - 'last portion of the Veda'. Claimed to be  the culmination of all knowledge.

22 Ephemeral: very short-lived, fleeting.

23 Guru Gita: Sanskrit - 'song of the guru'. Describes function, virtues and powers of  the guru.

24  Deity: god or God. Refers to Christ's claim to be God in the flesh; the Creator not the creature.

25 Expository: to make clear the meaning of something, explanatory.

26 Conjuring: calling forth as if by magic.

27 Shiva: the high God in some schools of Indian thought. Here, refers to Shiva's sport of creation, Lila or play.

28 Alpha and Omega:  the first and last letters  of the Greek alphabet.

29 Karma: Sanskrit - 'action'. Those actions (good and bad) done with attachment that lead to eternal entrapment.

30 Ramifications: complex results of particular thinking, action or events. 

KARNATAKA CHURCH ATTACK REPORT BY - JUSTICE B.K.SOMASEKHARA

JUSTICE B.K.SOMASEKHARA, FORMER JUDGE

High Courts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

One man Commission

Justice B.K.Somasekhara Commission of Inquiry

Presents

FINAL REPORT

CHURCHWISE FINDINGS

BELGAUM DISTRICT

Mount Carmel Church in Jade Galli of Shahpur

1.        Police have satisfied that they have taken all necessary steps to protect the Church and its members and to prevent recurrence of any such incident.

2.        The procedure followed in treating the complaint as a mere Miscellaneous  Petition is totally improper and illegal.   The Commission is totally not convinced about a procedure of treating such cases as Miscellaneous Petitions by Police and feels that it is a flagrant violation of established law.  Since the matter should be taken as pending finality, the   S.P of the District should personally take care to pursue the same as per law and convince the informants and the Govt., in this regard or else to face disciplinary consequences in Service Law.  If the Govt. issues proper directions to the S.P of Belgaum District to submit a final report in this regard perhaps the lapses in similar matters in other Districts will be rectified now and future also.  The Commission feels that there is a patent lapse of allowing such unbridled discretions to the Police Officers to mismanage such matters against the interest of the public and for personal interests and expects the Govt. to deal with the situation with stringent measures.

BANGALORE DISTRICT:

Saint James Church – Mariyannapalya, Bangalore City

1.       The attack is true both on Church and Sri Adi Kaveri Trust of Chittiappa .

2.        Zealot activities of Christians  of the area to Christianize the area and resistance by the members of  Sri Adi Kaveri Trust and  local Hindus are the reasons for the attack.

3.       Negligence of Christians of the  Church responsible.

4.       The Church persons did not co-operate with Police for preventing attack.

5.       Mr. Sangliana,  a former Police  chief  of Karnataka and presently claiming to be a  leader of Christians and turned Politician immediately after retirement interfered with the Amrithahalli  Police to take appropriate action whenever complained by  local Hindus but without success .

6.       The local Police gave all necessary protection  to the Church and its people and took immediate action and prevented further problems in the locality.

7.       BBMP  authorities have kept quite instead of solving the problems.

8.       Naming the area may be expedited based on the merits in consultation with  people  of all sections  and genuine  leaders.

9.       There appears to be  grabbing of public property  by both church people and Sri. Chittiappa’s group which require a serious inquiry and appropriate action by BBMP and Govt.

10.   Govt. and Corporation should take legal steps to remove all    encroachments and illegal fixing of crosses and illegal constructions  in  Kalvari Betta area and Kaveri Badavane.

11.   All problems in the area are very sensitive and to be handled  carefully and tactfully with the cooperation of local population, Religious leaders and political leaders of the area however as per law  and not sparing anybody ultimately.

12.   Christians in brute majority in the area and Hindus in hopeless minority to be treated equally.

13.   Harmony and cordiality between two groups to be brought about by sincere efforts by all wise and noble people.

14.   There is no evidence of fraudulent or compulsory conversions in the area and by the persons of the Church.

15.   Special Police protection to be continued whenever required or approached for some more time more or till steps are taken to solve the serious local problems.

16.   Politicization of the incident of attack by self styled leaders is clearly indicated in the area to be totally avoided.

17.   Bhajarangadal /Sangha pariwar/BJP/Govt have no role in the attack or problems.  It is a pure a local problem misused during the period of attacks in other Districts of Karnataka by political busy bodies probably to demoralize the ruling party and the Govt.

18.   The Church should provide its own security and  Co-operate with the local police for its protection and approach Police for any relief if necessary.

Holy Name of Jesus Church- Rajrajeshwarinagar

a)      The attack on the Church as alleged is true and a sporadic attack by a passerby or to create evidence by some mischief maker to support the attack in other  Districts like Dakshina Kannada and may be to create circumstances against the ruling Government of BJP at the relevant time.

b)      The Police Constable Sri.Prakash has done his duty properly to be totally exonerated of allegations.

c)       District Administration/Police have done their best and there is no failure on their part in dealing with the matter.

d)      Sangha Pariwar/Bhajrangadal/Hindus not involved to any extent in the incident.

e)      BJP/ Government has absolutely no role in the attack.

f)       There are indications of corruption in Corporation.  The Commissioner should uniformly regularise  any irregularity in licensing etc regarding constructions and specially this Church subject to relevant rules or bylaws or laws and initiate action against all or any officers or officials of Corporation responsible for any violations in such matters.

g)      Interference by Mr.Sangliana a former Senior Police Officer and a former M.P. of Karnataka with local Police administration appears to be true and probable.  But in spite of it the police have acted independently.

h)       Normal protection to the Church and persons of the Church to continue like any other religious places, but the Police should take immediate action if any complaint is made in any form.

i)        The Church to provide its own watch and ward for its protection with intimation to Police.

j)         There are instances of attempted conversions with inducements and by degrading Hindu religion and its practices by certain Christian Preachers from this  area.  But there is no proof of fraudulent or compulsory conversions by anybody from this Church or at their instance.

k)       The District administration and the District Police may call for any relevant information to provide general or special protection to the Church and if necessary a circular or G.O. may be issued in this regard with wide publicity to apply to all such religious places of all religions.

l)         The Church may claim any reimbursement for the repairs of the Grotto or replacement of the statue before the Dy.Commissioner, Bangalore urban who shall determine personally on proof by following formal procedure under S.33 of the Karnataka land Revenue Act 1964 and the relevant Rules like a Civil case for compensation with no delegation to any other officer.

St. Anthony New Church (Santha Anthoniyavara Devalaya) Yedavanahalli

1.       This is a clear case of fire mischief in the Church amounting to vandalism.

2.       Such a mischief must have been planned and executed by some external agency and Police officers on guard either co-operating with culprits or being indifferent and negligent. The main culprits in this regard  appears to be, 1. Father Santhosh (CW.42) ,  2. David -46 and his men detailed in the report, 3. Two police constables Sri B.M.Nagaraj  (C.W 112) and Sri B.P.Nagendra Kumar( CW.113) on duty.

3.       The Incident is a make believe one to connect other similar incidents of attack in Karnataka.

4.       It is not done by Sangha Pariwar /Hindus. Etc.

5.       Local Athibele Police did their best after the fire incident.

6.       COD  Police totally failed in their investigation to locate the culprits and spoilt the best opportunities to bring home the guilty persons-  Entrusting the case to them was a total waste and counter productive..

7.       Compensation to be paid to the Church to the extent of Rs.6,00,000/- and  50% of any amount exceeding it after an Inquiry by the D.C.  However if  any amount is already paid it may be deducted out of the total amount to be paid.

8.       50% of the Compensation may be recovered from C.W.42 -Father Santhosh  by the D.C  after an Inquiry by  Reverend Father Moras with a report  to D.C Bangalore.

9.       The case may be investigated by an Intelligent and efficient Police Officer of high repute specially to be deputed to expose culprits.

10.   BJP/Govt totally innocent and has nothing to do with the incident to any extent.

11.   Two police constables found to be negligent during the incident may be suspended immediately and disciplinary action may be taken against them as per their rules, and may be prosecuted as per law with intimation to the Govt and to be widely published.

12.   Action to be taken against the officers of COD Police investigating into the case of Fire Mischief for dereliction of duty.

13.   Concerned Senior Officers examined in the Inquiry may be warned/cautioned for failure to take action against the two negligent Police Officers with wide publicity.

14.   The general recommendations made ultimately for all incidents may be followed.

BELLARY DISTRICT

“Bethseda Prayer Fellowship” Kottur

1.       The incident of attack on the Prayer hall on 7^th September 2008 is true.

2.       Actually there is no prayer hall in the true sense of the term.   But prayers conducted by the Pastor Rajashekhar for Hindus and others were disturbed by the persons opposed to such activities  and the District administration, with the impression that conversion activities were going on there under the guise of conducting prayers.    Pastor Rajashekhar has given impressions to Hindus and the District Administration that he did his activities in a unauthorized construction on a site yet to be granted as per law, without permission from the authorities and by misusing the funds got for adult education  from the Govt in the District and allegations of conversions were found to be true in strong circumstances of his conduct.

3.       The persons opposed to the activities of Pastor Jayaprakash attacked the Prayer Hall and devotees as alleged.   No particular person or Organization is proved to be involved in the attack.

4.       The District Administration and the Police had to interfere  in the event for avoiding further trouble to the Prayer hall and to the devotees. 

5.       The District Administration and Police gave all the protection to the Petitioner Pastor Jayaprakash and his people and devotees as required and there is no lapse on them to any extent.

6.       Pastor Jayaprakash and Pastors like him in the District and elsewhere have totally commercialized the religion by misusing the Christianity’s fair name  and by misusing the Govt. funds meant for Adult Education or from some illegitimate sources.  Actually there is no religious activities of Christianity nor the Pastor knows anything about Christian religion or its activities.

7.       The allegations against attackers is general and not against  Hindus or Hindu outfits  .

8.       Guilty – Jayaprakash. Stop the grant first to association and education.

9.       BJP/Ruling party Govt have no role to play in the attacks.

10.   Grant of a site to construct the Church by Pastor Jayaprakash  is false and  appears to be manipulated action in Collusion with Panchayath Secretary and middlemen.   Revenue Officer have not taken care.   Deputy Commissioner failed to enquire into site affairs .  Indication of corruption by panchayath Secretary/middle man probable.

11.   Arrange for census of Christians and Churches to separate genuine Christians and false Christians, so that the  list of minorities can be published for giving legal protection to them as per COI and law.

12.   Activities of Jayaprakash, Pastor to be watched by a special squad of Police and appropriate action to be taken.

13.   Religious groups in the district should be clearly identified for general or special protection.

Chickkaballapur District

1.       The allegation of attack on this church is true.

2.       The church building and its materials were damaged during the attack.

3.       The attack is by the miscreants opposed to the activities of the Petitioner in the Church and incidentally resulting in change of faith by Hindus attending the prayers.

4.       There are clear indications of attempted conversions by the Petitioner by external funding for inducements to innocent and poor sections of society.

5.       The persons changing their faith to Christianity have continued to have privileges of SC/ST Hindus.

6.       The District Administration and the Police have taken appropriate steps regarding the Church and the persons including the required protection.

7.       The investigation into  the incident of attack by the local Police, the immediate steps taken by the local people in regard to the incident was satisfactory but the investigation into the incident of attack by the COD is not satisfactory and their submitting ‘C’ report is not suitably explained.

8.       The Commission expects the continuation of the investigation by  the independent Investigating Officer of known repute and efficiency.

9.       The Petitioner who is already paid the compensation of Rs.1,500/- and not satisfied may lay a claim before the Deputy Commissioner, Chikkaballapur with supporting materials and an enquiry shall be held to assess the compensation and to arrange the payment at the earliest deducting any amount already paid.

10.   The Government may enquire and withdraw the privileges to every persons who is  indulging  or gettingconverted in such illegal activities of conversions commercially.

11.   Use of illegal funds from illegal sources for conversion including the foreign funds may not be improbable.

12.   The activities  of the Petitioner in the Church and outside appears to be commercial in nature more than the religious activities.

13.   The District Administration and the Police should watch the activities of the Petitioner and take appropriate action against him according to law.

14.    The Government may issue a Circular to the District Administration   to insist on a declaration from persons like petitioner and others belonging to a particular religion before granting any privileges including the financial assistance.  The Government may also ensure that in case of false declaration such privileges shall be withdrawn by the District Administration.

Kolar District

St. Mary’s Church, Kolar

1.       The allegation of attack on the Church is true.   It looked sporadic act initially, but later found to be mischievous and deliberate.

2.       The allegations of conversions of Hindus to Christianity are true by certain modus operandi adopted as alleged but  not the ground for attack.

3.       The attack was not by any Hindu organizations like Bajrangdal.

4.       The attack is a deliberate attempt to create evidence or circumstance  to connect other events of  attacks on Churches at the relevant time in Karnataka totally stage managed by local persons or group or local Political force to demoralize or demolish the ruling BJP Govt at the relevant time.

5.       The District Administration  and Police acted  with all concern and promptitude  in dealing with the incident including providing  protection and reimbursing the loss of damages partly and recommending payment of additional compensation by the Govt.  The District Administration and specially  Mr Srinivasa, the then Deputy Commissioner of Kolar and Police deserve compliments for such immediate actions and for bringing back peace and harmony fast.

6.       The investigation into the incident by the local Police commenced well and ended ineffective and futile due to fear of exposing some local vested interest or Political force(Party) opposed to ruling BJP Govt.  or due to certain local forces to suppress the truth.

7.       The COD Officers put an end to the truth by submitting a belated “C” Report to the Court to avoid the expected problems to certain persons or parties.

8.       The incident requires further investigation by an independent and effective investigating agency like CBI with a time frame.

9.       Neither ruling BJP Govt. nor Bajrangdal/Sangh Pariwar had any hand in the attack directly or indirectly.

10.   The balance of compensation Rs.199,838, recommended  by the D.C to the Govt. should be paid forthwith since pending long.

11.   The Govt. may hold inquiry into the lapses of Police Officers mentioned in the report and take appropriate action against them as per law.

Davanagere  District

Anagodu Church, Davanagere

1.       The allegation of attack on the Church/Prayer Hall is true and the attack is on the sentiments of devotees and the obstructions to their prayers  therein is true.

2.       The attackers are the Fundamentalist miscreants of the persons opposed to Christian faith and practices.

3.       The allegation of attack by Sanghpariwar or Sreeramasene is not established except with such impressions due to their understanding of the conduct of attackers particularly in view of attacks on other Churches.

4.       There is no failure on the part of District  Administration or the Police in giving timely protection and necessary action on intimation.   They deserve compliments.

5.       The Interim Arrangement in the order dt. 17/12/2008 to continue subject to the Petitioner complying with the prescribed  conditions and cooperating with them by following legal  requirement.

6.       The D.A and the Police to provide all protection to the Petitioner and devotees whenever  approached or intimated as per law.

7.       The D.A and Police shall identify the Organizations/miscreants  and take appropriate action against them as per law.

DHM PRARTHANA MANDIRA – NITTUVALLI.

1.       The allegations of attack on the Prayer hall are true to the extent stated above.

2.       The attack was by angered Hindus in general and about 10  to 15 persons of  Hindu Jagarana Vedike workers in particular with the impression given by the Pastor Rajashekhar that  he was indulging in conversion of Hindus under the guise of holding prayers.

3.       The locking of the Prayer hall and preventing the holding of prayers with the participant devotees by the Police and the Corporation Authorities supported by the District Administration were  totally unjustified.

4.       Pastor Rajashekhar was harassed by the  District Administration and the Corporation authorities regarding his property and construction without basis.

5.       The concerned Police had no intimation or expectation that the Prayer Hall in question will be attacked as alleged.

6.       The Police gave sufficient and appropriate protection to the Prayer Hall after the incident.

7.       The Police have taken sufficient steps to investigate and prosecute the attackers.

8.       There is no role of  Govt.  or ruling party BJP or Sangha Pariwar or Bajrangdal in the Attack directly or indirectly.

9.       Pastor Rajashekhar and devotees may lay a claim for compensation for any loss or damage to the Prayer hall or their sentiments due to attack before the Dy Commissioner who shall hold inquiry , asses the compensation and arrange for payments at the earliest.

10.   The activities of Pastor Rajashekhar and funding for the same shall be watched and regulated by the District Administration as per law and on lines suggested in the interim arrangement dt 17/12/2008

11.   The Govt. may issue appropriate directions to the District Administration including Police and Corporation Authorities to act as recommended above.

ETERNAL LIFE CHURCH   - Nittuvalli:

1.       The alleged attack on this Church or Prayer Hall as per the allegations of the petitioner is true.

2.       Persons belonging to Hindu Jagarana Vedike and some Sections of Hindus were responsible for such attacks and specially the following persons viz.,Sriyuths  Rajashekhar, D. Basavaraj Gubbi, Deepak Kanade, Manikanta, Manjunath Shetty, Raghavendra, Prakash, Mukundappa along with Sri Sardar Sevalal Swamiji  and other members of Hindu Jagarana Vedike.

3.        There is no involvement of other Sections of Sangha Pariwar   which is generally referred to in the evidence.  The Commission is not able to believe that either Bhajarangadal or Sangha Pariwar  were indulging in such activities.

4.       There is nothing on record to indicate that either the Govt. or petitioner indirectly had anything  to do with such attack or the participation through the agencies of the Govt. like Corporation, Revenue Department or the Police people.  But one thing certain which is appearing to the Commission is that the incidents have occurred in the background of totality of the series of attack which occurred in Karnataka especially in the District of Dakshina Kannada and other Districts almost simultaneously.  The said incident relating to this Church may be one of such tremors used or rather misused by certain sections of Hindu religion calling themselves as belonging to Hindu Jagarana Vedike.  There is no material on record to believe that there is really any such organization called as Hindu Jagarana Vedike which may be a self styled extremist attitudinal group among such miscreants. 

5.       The District Administration Revenue Authorities including  the Deputy Commissioner and his subordinate Officers in the District  and the Corporation Authorities, especially the Commissioner acted unreasonably, cruelly and illegally .   But the S.P and his men did their best to deal with the matter appropriately and carefully, but inevitably under the influence of the District Administration

Parishuddha Prarthanalaya, Davanagere

1.       The alleged attack on this Church or Prayer Hall as per the allegations of the petitioner is true.

2.       There is nothing on record to indicate that either the Govt. or Ruling Party BJP directly or  indirectly had anything  to do with such attack or the participation through the agencies of the Govt. like Corporation, Revenue Department or the Police people

3.       The concerned Police and Grama Panchayath persons acted unreasonably, cruelly and illegally with wrong understanding of the law and the purpose of their functions and with imprudence coupled with ignorance of the consequences.   But the S.P and the Police in general did their best to deal with the matter appropriately and carefully, but inevitably under the influence of the District Administration.

Jesu Prayer Hall, Shivakumara Layout, Davanagere

1.       The alleged attack on this Church or Prayer Hall as per the allegations of the petitioner is true.

2.       Certain persons claiming to be the members of Hindu Jagarana Vedike are responsible for such attacks.  They are identified to be the nine persons by the Petitioner Mr.Dencil regarding whom the Police registered a Criminal case very late although complained immediately according to the Petitioner.

3.       The Police were helpless and did not either prevent or protect the Petitioner and the persons in the Church regarding the attacks.

4.       The District Administration and the Corporation Commissioner were unreasonable, biased and negligent in dealing with the matter.  Their conduct is clearly repugnant to Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

5.       Resorting to S.107 proceedings liberally has unnecessarily interfered with the fundamental rights of the petitioner and other worshippers in this Church or Prayer hall.

6.       There is nothing on record to indicate that either the Govt. or Ruling Party BJP had anything to do with such attack directly or  indirectly or the participation through the agencies of the Govt. like Corporation, Revenue Department or the Police people.

7.       The District Administration may take any action against such activities of the Petitioner, but only as per law and not arbitrarily like the present ways.

8.       The Police should prosecute all the culprits as for religious offences and specially nine persons identified by the Petitioner.

9.       The Govt. may issue directions to the District Administration and the Police and Corporation authorities to deal with the matter as required under law and if necessary arrange for Departmental Inquiry against all the persons responsible for the injustice done to the petitioner and others.

Full Gospel Assembly, Harapanahalli

1.       The allegation of  attack on this prayer Hall  is true.

2.       The attackers are the members of Sangh Pariwar identified by the Petitioner Rajashekhar as five persons detailed by him.

3.       The District Administration has taken proper care of the incident of attack and to give adequate protection to the Church and the devotees.

4.       There are indications of attempted conversion by Pastor Rajashekhar under the guise of holding prayers attracting Hindus.

5.       The activities of Pastor Rajashekhar requires to be checked by the District Administration.

6.       The Govt. or the ruling party BJP has no role in the attack.   It was part of other attacks in the State.

7.       The Police should complete investigation into the Complaints of the Pastor and prosecute the miscreants according to law at the earliest.

8.       If  Pastor Rajashekhar has suffered any damage or loss due to such attack he may lay claim before the Dy. Commissioner, Davanagere  who shall inquire and assess and arrange for payments at the earliest.

9.       District Administration should take all care to protect the interests of the minorities as per law.

 

Parivarthana Prarthana  Mandira, Harapanahalli

1.       There is no attack on this Prayer Hall in the sense like other Churches/Prayer Halls.   But in the aftermath of attacks in the District this Prayer Hall was also affected and the Petitioner and his men might have been indirectly troubled

2.       The Police and some persons of Hindu religion prevented the Petitioners from holding prayers which was not justified.

3.       The Village Panchayath is delaying disposal of  application of the Petitioner for grant of License for prayer hall.

4.       The Govt. may direct the  Deputy Commissioner, Davangere  to issue orders to his Officers and the Grama Panchayath to expedite the reliefs to the Petitioners as per law and protect their interests subject the limitations of Art 25 of the Constitution of India and other laws., but not to prevent holding of prayers under technical grounds.

5.       No person or organization is identified as troubling the Petitioners and particularly there is nothing against the Govt/BJP ruling party/Bajrangdal/Sangha Parivar/Hindu Jgarana Vedike

6.       The District Administration and the Police to protect the interests of the Petitioners and other devotees of this prayer hall whenever approached and as per law.

Yesu Kripalaya, Jakkalli Villege , Channagiri Taluk

1.       The issue of notices by the Police and the Grama Panchayath, Somalapura to the Petitioner as per Ex.C.(HM) 233 and 234 to stop prayers amounts to attack on the Church in law and should be withdrawn immediately.  The concerned Officers /Officials should be warned in this regard in writing that any repetition would be dealt with seriously.

2.       The Police and District Administration should arrange for opening the Church if not opened in spite of the directions of the Commission and the Hon’ble High Court and if already opened to  protect the rights of the devotees to offer prayers.   The arrangement dt 17/12/2008 provided for this should be maintained .

3.       The authorities  to dispose of the applications of the Petitioner and the devotees Dt. 10/11/2003 and of 2004  for grant of some space for their activities on merits expeditiously.

4.       There is no failure of District Administration or Police in giving protection so far but the protection should be given promptly if approached

5.       The Govt. may communicate these recommendations to the District Administration, Grama Panchayath, Somalapura and Police immediately.

Ressurection God’s Ministries Trust,(Malebennur) Harihara Taluk:

1)      The attack on this Prayer Hall continuously including burning of  temporary shed on his land during his absence as alleged by the Petitioner is true.

2)      The local Grama Panchayath Chairman and members and Executive Officer at the relevant time supported by the local Police  were responsible for the attack and harassment meted to the Petitioner.

3)      The Grama Panchayath members, Tahsildar Harihar, Revenue Officers of Harihar taluk and local Police were responsible for  unjustly disconnecting electricity  through the Officers and staff of  local BESCOM to his residence for over an year putting the Petitioner and the members of his family to untold miseries and harassment.    The District Administration was totally indifferent towards the representations of the petitioner regarding the same.

4)      The local Officers, specially, the Grama Panchyath persons of Malebennur were totally hostile to the Petitioner and his claims with the ground that he was indulging in conversions.

5)      The Executive Officers of Grama Panchayath and the Appellate authority deliberately did not change the Khatha of the Property in the name of the Petitioner  on lame grounds not known in law or on facts.

6)      The Appellate Authority adopted a totally strange procedure in dealing with the appeal of the Petitioner regarding change of Khatha either due to ignorance or due to hostility towards him or due to the influence of some extraneous agency in the District Administration.   He does not deserve to hold any independent or responsible post at least for five to ten years nor to be considered for any service benefit till he is properly trained and examined by some competent authority outside his department ( and if possible through an agency like Lokayuktha).   He deserves some punishment for the misconduct after a departmental Inquiry under CCA Rules with suspension pending inquiry.

7)      The local Revenue Officers deserve the same treatment as indicated in finding 6 above with departmental inquiry with suspension and may not be given any independent charge at least for five years in the Revenue Department or elsewhere.

8)      The only Revenue Officer to be complimented is Smt. Janaki, the Asst Commissioner, Harihar who dealt with the violent conduct of Malebennur persons by appropriate actions but not regarding the legal proceedings as per law.   She may be deputed for intensive training in law at least for two years in a reputed training centre like ATI Mysore or elsewhere.

9)      The D.A and Officers and Police who are found to be hostile to the Petitioner should tender written apology to the Petitioner and the D.A should  undertake to rectify all  defects  and  provide deserving remedies  to the petitioner as per law within a fixed time frame not exceeding six months from the date of intimation by the Govt.

10)   The Petitioner should be adequately compensated in money for all the miseries he suffered from the D.A and local Officers on laying a claim before the Dy. Commissioner, Davanagere who shall assess it by following a formal procedure indicated above under LR Act and arrange for payment to the Petitioner soon.

11)   The local Police should protect the Petitioner as against any local outfits called by any name and protect him as and when approached by him.

12)   The Govt. may regulate the activities of the  Petitioner to be transparent and as per law and public interest within the meaning of Art 25 of the Constitution of India and check his funds by proper audit and taxing method.  The Petitioner should cooperate with the  concerned officers  in this regard and disclose all the information necessary for the purpose.

Yesu Kripalaya (AiÉÄøÀÄ PÀÈ¥Á®AiÀÄ) - Bada

1.       The attack on the church or the Prayer Hall as alleged by the Petitioner Mr. Lukas and others  is true.

2.       The persons responsible for the attack are (1) Basappa (2) Kenchaveerappa (3) Basavannagouda (4)Mallikarjuna (5) Giridas (6) M.D.Suresh (7) Prabhakara (8) Rudresh (9) B.G.Kumara (10)Gurushanthappa (11) Veeresh.

3.       The building of the church or the Prayer Hall was  extensively damaged due to the attack and the loss due to the damage must be at least Rs.65,000 to Rs.70,000/-.

4.       The Petitioner Mr. Lukas or any person on behalf of the church or the Prayer hall may lay a claim before the Deputy Commissioner, Davanagere who shall hold a formal enquiry, assess the compensation and arrange for the payment at the earliest.

5.       The Government in consultation with the District Administration may arrange for appointment of a special public prosecutor to conduct the case in the Criminal court against the miscreants and monitor the progress.

6.       The local Police shall continue to protect the interest of the church and the devotees as and when approached.

7.       The District Administration may check and watch the activities of the petitioner Mr. Lukas in the Church including the financial management and also  the alleged conversions and take appropriate action against him according to law if necessary.

8.       The Commission compliments Smt. Latha, the PSI who has done the best work in regard to complaint, investigation and filing of charge sheet in the case.  She may be issued an appreciation letter or a merit certificate.

Chikkamagaluru District

Jagadeeshwara Devalaya(Kalasa)   and Carmel Mathe Davalaya(Kuduremukha)

       

1.       The allegation of attack on the two Churches is true

2.       The miscreants  were not known, but suspected to be the workers of Bajrangdal lead by Mr. Mahendra Kumar  or enraged  local Hindus due to the activities  against Hindus and  of conversions by the petitioners of these Churches.

3.       The Churches  and the items  therein were damaged   during the attack.

4.       The damages  to Carmel Mathe Devalaya  are got repaired by Kudremukh authorities.

5.       Compensation for damages for both the Churches may be paid on the Petitioners laying claims  supported by materials before the Dy. Commissioner , Chikkamagaluru who shall hold an inquiry, asses the compensation, arrange for payment at the earliest deducting any amount already paid or spent for repairs by the Govt.

6.       The Police shall pursue investigation to identify the accused and to prosecute them as per law.

7.       The District  Administration have done their duty promptly and properly by giving protection and taking immediate action when intimated or known.   They deserve compliments.

Christian Believers  Prayer Hall (Vantaramakki)

1.       The allegation of attack on the  Church and devotees is true.

2.       The Police prevented further attacks  by taking immediate action.

3.       A big crowd of miscreants  ( The persons Prosecuted by the Police and other absconding persons –Vide Items 8 to 20 of Annexure-L) with Yogish Raje Urs, and Nariguddenahalli Ranganath   suspected to be the workers of Bajrangdal lead by Mr. Mahendra Kumar  or enraged  local Hindus due to the activities  against Hindus and  of conversions by the petitioners of the Church and due to local rivalries of two groups of Christians and Hindus lead by Mr. Mahendra Kumar and Mr. Colaso were responsible for the attacks.

4.       The attacks were well planned but none informed the police in advance to prevent the attacks.

5.       The allegation of conversions by the local Christians lead by Mr.Colaco appears to be true and probable.

6.       The Police shall pursue investigation to identify the absconding accused and  to prosecute them as per law.

7.       The District  Administration have done their duty promptly and properly by giving protection and taking immediate action when intimated or known.   They deserve compliments.

Protestent  Prarthana Mandira ( Jayapura)

1.       The allegation of attack on the  Church and devotees is true.

2.       The attackers are the 10 persons and others  prosecuted by the Police in Cr.No158/2008 before the concerned Court. (Item 10 of Annexure-L)

3.       The attacks were well planned but none informed the police in advance to prevent the attacks.

4.       The allegation of conversions by the local Christians lead by Mr.Colaco appears to be true and probable.

5.       The District Administration have done their duty promptly and properly by giving protection and taking immediate action when intimated or known.   They deserve compliments.

6.       As per general findings regarding the District

UDUPI DISTRICT

ST.CECILY’S CONVENT, UDUPI

Observations shall be the findings regarding this Institution and nothing more. The Govt. may issue directions to the District Administration to inquire into the allegations of the Petitioners

and take appropriate action as per law with a report to the Govt. within a reasonable period.

CARMELITE ASHRAM, Kundapur

1.       The incident of attack  on this Institution as alleged is true.

2.       The miscreants attacking are the persons prosecuted by the Police in Courts which should take a decision after trial as per law.

3.       The involvement of Bajrangdal/BJP/State Govt. in such an attack is doubtful and appears to be general impressions regarding all such attacks in Dakshina Kannad and other Districts

4.       The allegations of conversions by this Institution and the Churches in Udupi District are true.

5.       The District Administration and the Police have done their best regarding the incident of this Church including the payment of immediate compensation and they deserve compliments.

6.       The concerned persons of this Institution may lay a claim for additional compensation before the Dy. Commissioner, Udupi who shall hold an inquiry, assess compensation and arrange for payment at the earliest.

7.       The Govt. may issue appropriate directions to the District administration and the Police to take necessary action in the light of the observations made in this report.

Life and Light Ministries Church, Shiroor:

1.       The allegations of attack on the Church, on the Petitioner Mr.Abraham, on the building of the Church is true.

2.       The attackers are the 11 and others persons prosecuted by the Police after an investigation of Cr.162/2008 of Byndur Police Station.  Police shall pursue the efforts to find the other accused and include them in the prosecution.

3.       The involvement of workers of Bajrangdal lead by Mr. Mahendra Kumar, the convener of Bajrangdal is probable and appears to be true.

4.       The allegations of conversions by the Petitioner Mr. Abraham, his men and their maligning of Hindu religion, Hindu Gods, and traditions  enraging local Hindus are very much true.   The District administration should take care to check and act as per law against him and his activities of conversions and anti activities against Hindu Religion.

5.       The allegation of  involvement of the Govt. or ruling party BJP or any other Sangha Pariwar  is baseless.

6.       The building of the Church and the Vehicle of the Petitioner were  damaged due to the attack and to be compensated on laying a claim by the Petitioner Mr. Abraham before the Dy. Commissioner, Udupi  deducting the amount already paid.

7.       The District Administration and the Police deserve compliments for timely action on the complaint of the Petitioner, for compensation paid immediately and for the completion of investigation and prosecuting the miscreants speedily.

NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP, UDUPI

1.       The incident of attack on the prayer hall and the devotees as alleged is true.

2.       The damages to the prayer hall  due to attack as alleged is true. It shall be reimbursed to the Petitioner Pastor Gopinathan on his laying a claim before the  Dy. Commissioner who shall inquire, assess and pay the compensation   deducting any amount already paid.

3.       The attackers are the persons alleged and prosecuted by the police in addition to others who may be absconding to be apprehended and included in the prosecution as per law.

4.       Bajrangdal workers among the attackers appears to be probable due to impressions prevailing at the relevant time, but the concerned Court will decide about it during the trial.

5.       The alleged activities of conversions of Pastor Gopinathan under the guise of attracting Hindus for prayers appears to be probable and true.

6.       The motive for attack is not conversions but internal disputes due to the activities of pastor Gopinathan in the Prayer Hall affecting the business and comforts of other business shops in Krishna Krupa Complex.

7.       The concerned Police have taken appropriate action regarding the incident and the protection to the Prayer hall and the devotees and deserve compliments.

8.       The District administration has done well in dealing with the situation arising out of the incident and deserves compliments.

9.       The Police should watch the activities of Pastor Gopinathan regarding conversions and disturbance to other business shops in the complex and take action as per law against all concerned.

10.   Neither the Govt. nor the ruling BJP had any role in such attacks and such allegations against them appears to be politically motivated.

DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT

Assemblies of God's Church, at Nettana in Puthur.

1.       The attack on  this Church and on the Petitioner and the devotees  as alleged is true.

2.       The persons involved in the attack are the Accused in the Charge Sheet before the Court as per Ex,C.394-A and may be others which the concerned  Court will have to find out and punish as per law.

3.       Neither Sangh Pariwar in general nor Bhajrangdal have anything to do with the attack as a motive for alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity. 

4.       Possibility of the Petitioner attempting conversions under the guise of holding prayers in the Church may not be ruled out which the Police and District Administration should watch and take care to avoid future attacks.

5.       The involvement of the Govt. or the Ruling BJP Party  in the attack directly or indirectly  is totally ruled out.

6.       The Govt. should regulate the financial and other  activities of the Petitioner  regarding this Church through proper inquiry as per law, but should ensure all protection for religious activities as per Art 25 of the Constitution of India and prevent further attacks on any ground .

7.       7. The loss due to damages  to the Church and the items has to be    compensated  in addition to medical expenses to the Petitioner and others on laying a proper claim before the D.C, Mangalore who  should inquire as per law in a quasi judicial procedure under Land Revenue Act  and arrange for payment soon. 

Believers Church of India.

1.       1. The allegations of attack on the Churches and the persons   connected  with the Churches are true.

2.       The Churches and their materials are damaged due to the attack

3.       The miscreants attacking the Churches  are  1.Dinesh Kumar, 2.Umesh, 3.Santhosh Kumar 4. Rajesh  and 5.Mohan Das alias Kumar as per the Investigation and prosecution regarding which the concerned Court has to hold a trial and find out.  However, this Commission  has no material to fix the identity and will accept the prima facie material of the Police investigation and the charge sheet.

4.       The District Administration and the Police have not failed in their duty either to protect the Churches or to take appropriate action regarding the attack and especially the concerned  Police officers have done their best regarding the same.

5.       There is nothing either alleged or established against the Govt. the ruling BJP, the Sangha Pariwar or any persons directly or indirectly in the attack except the five accused  according to the Police Investigation.

6.       The loss or damage to the Churches shall be reimbursed for the petitioner laying the claim before the D.C , Dakshina Kannada who shall hold an enquiry, as per law , fix the amount of compensation and arrange for payment at the earliest.

Blessing Assembly of God Prayer Fellowship, Kulur, Mangalore Taluk:

1.       The allegation of attack on the Prayer hall and the Petitioner is true.

2.       The attackers are the members of Hindu Samaj and specifically the absconding Accused who are Prosecuted by the Police based on the complaint and the investigation.   Kavur Police should pursue the efforts to nab the accused and produce before the Court soon for trial.

3.       There is no allegation or proof  of involvement of Bajarangadal /Sangha Parivar or the Govt. directly or indirectly.

4.       The Properties of the Church are damaged as claimed by the Petitioner and detailed in the Panchanama Dt.14/09/2008 which is valued therein at Rs.45000 to 50000/-.

5.       The Petitioner and the two Police Constables  Sri.Ravi Kumar-P.C 2176, and Sri Sadananda GowdaP.C.1758 were injured during the attack by the accused.

6.       The Kavur Police and specially the two constables have done their best in dealing with the matter even at the cost of injuring themselves.

7.       There is no failure of the D.A or the Police in dealing with this  incident of attack.

8.       The Petitioner /Prayer hall should be reimbursed the loss due to damages due to attack at least to the extent of Rs.45000/- to 50000/- already estimated by the Police.  The Petitioner may lay a claim for the balance of loss  if any with supporting materials before the Dy. Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada who shall hold  a formal inquiry, assess the actual loss and arrange for payment at the earliest, deducting any payment if made already.

9.       The two constable shall also be entitled to be compensated for the  suffering due to  injuries sustained by them during attack and the Dy. Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada shall assess and arrange for payment to them at the earliest  They  shall be issued merit certificate for the good work  done by them.

10.   10. The protection shall be extended to the Prayer hall and the   Petitioner and his men whenever approached.

Canara Organisation for Develpoment and Peace:

No specific finding recorded. The Police and District Administration will take care and protect the interests of this Organization generally and specially whenever approached in difficulties.

CSI Christ Church, Mangalore

1.       The allegations of attack on the Church  is true.

2.       The Church and its materials are extensively damaged due to the attack worth at least Rs..35000/-.

3.       The culprits attacking the Church are 10 persons arrayed as accused in the Charge sheet which the Court shall try and find out the truth and punish them if convicted.  However, this Commission  has no material to fix the identity and will accept the prima facie material of the Police investigation and the charge sheet.

4.       The District Administration and the Police have not failed in their duty either to protect the Church or to take appropriate action regarding the attack and specially the concerned  Police officers have done their best regarding the same.  In fact the P.C on duty Mr.Mascarenhas  was injured due to the attack while trying to catch the attackers

5.       There is nothing either alleged or established against the Govt. the ruling BJP, the Sangha Pariwar or any persons directly or indirectly involved in the attack except the ten  accused  according to the Police Investigation.

6.       The loss or damage to the Church shall be reimbursed for the petitioner on laying the claim before the D.C,  Dakshina Kannada who shall hold an enquiry, as per law , fix the amount of compensation and arrange for payment at the earliest.  The Police Constable,PC.No.449 Mr. Mascarenhas should also be compensated for the injury suffered by him while on duty during attack on laying a claim before the Dy Commissioner.

7.       The concerned Police Officers are to be complimented for the good work done regarding this church.   Certificate of Appreciation may be issued by the Govt. to them.

Bondel  Church,

 St.Lawrence Church, Bondel

1.       The clash between Hindus and Christians about their assertions regarding encroachment on  Kursu gudde and the attack is true.

2.       The rights and possession  over Kursu gudde  is pending  under  S. 145 of Cr.P.C. before  the District Magistrate  who has either disposed of  or dealing with it in a manner expected  under law.   However the land   regarding Kursu gudde  belongs to the Govt. and  neither Christians of Bondel Church nor the workers of Bajrangdal have any semblance of right  over the said land and Gudde.  The  Govt. shall  take appropriate action against all concerned in the encroachment on the said  Gudde/Hillock  as per law . But any aggrieved or  interested person shall be  entitled to get relief in that regard  before any forum or court.   The Govt.  may also regularize the possession or right in favour of any genuine party or group  under Akrama Sakrama Yojane.  Till then  the District  Administration shall maintain status quo by passing appropriate orders as per law.

3.       3. The concerned police of  Kovur and specially   C.W 60 and his team have  done their best regarding the incidents  arising out of agitations of Christians of Bondel Church  and rival groups of Hindus and Christians trying  or  asserting their rights on Kursu gudde at the relevant time.

4.       The allegations of conversions by this Church or its people has no basis.

5.       The Govt. in the meantime should not allow this controversy for political gains by any political forces.

    

 Janadhawani People’s Union for Civil Liberties , Mangalore

      PUCL, Mangalore-

1.       The conduct of Petitioner Mr.Melvil Pinto, CW(HM)2 in Petitions(P.9/2008) of Janadhwani PUCL matter reflects his cynical, cryptic and vilifying  attitude against the Govt./Ruling BJP/Top Officers in the District Administration and specially certain persons said to be or may be opposed to Christian minorities.  Already the proceedings initiated under the provisions of Goondas Act against him disclose his virulent activities, contempt for public administration.  He appears to think of a parallel Govt. with the advise of certain unconstitutional persons with improprieties in their action.  His objection and expressions noted in the report require some serious criminal action against him as per law.

2.       The Commission strongly recommends that the Govt./District Administration/Police to take some serious action against the Petitioner Mr. Melvil Pinto for his blasphemous expressions against them.

3.       The Proceedings initiated or pending against Mr.Melvil Pinto under Goondas Act may be pursued.

4.       The Govt. may pass some legislation to curb such activities of persons like Mr.Melvil Pinto which are likely to demoralize the public interest and Public Administration.

5.       The Commission Office shall issue Show Cause Notice to Mr.Melvil Pinto as to why he should not be prosecuted under Section 10-C of the Commission of Inquiry Act or under the Provisions of any other law for the time being in force, however subject to Article 19 and 20 of the Constitution of India.  The Government may pursue this after the Commission becomes Functus Officio.

6.       If, Mr.Melvil Pinto files any written unconditional apology in reply to show cause notice for such conduct and expressions no action against him shall be pursued.

7.       The District Administration/Police shall hold an inquiry as to how used tear gas shells were treated after using them in Mangalore Police action at the  relevant time and as to how they were available for person like Mr.Melvil Pinto to be photographed or depended upon as evidence before the Commission in writing in this regard.   All the concerned Police Officers may be admonished for such lapses observed in the report.

8.       The Government may check and insist proper management of ammunitions in the Districts including Tear Gas Shells by the S.P. with periodical check by DGP/ADGP of the District.

9.       If any rules or procedures are already existing all the concerned Police Officers may be punished for violating them and impress upon  all the concerned to  follow   the procedures strictly with the District heads to be made responsible for the same.

Jesus Christ Church in India, Shakthi Nagar, Mangalore

1.       The attack on the Church and the damages to the Church and valuable materials of the Church as alleged is true.

2.       The attackers are the  eight accused in  the Charge  Sheet  Ex.C.708(d) ,filed in Cr.No.185/2008 of Mangalore Rural Police Station before JMFC 3 rd  Court , Mangalore.  But to show that they are the workers of Bhajrangdal there is no material.

3.       The Govt. /BJP is not implicated in the attack to any extent

4.       The Petitioner Mr.David to be compensated by the Govt. if he lays a claim with evidence to be looked into by the D.C, Dakshina Kannada after a formal inquiry as per law.

5.       The Police should give protection to the Petitioner as and  when required.

6.       The complaints of conversions in this Church by the Petitioner Mr.Chandrasekhar C.W.385, shall be dealt with as per law by the concerned Police with all seriousness.

Kapitanio High School, Mangalore

1.       The concerned Police should also prevent  such incidents by giving necessary protection to the school and its students and nab the miscreants who may be responsible for such incidents.

2.       The Commission also expects the Police to seize all such objectionable materials, stop further circulation and initiate action against all concerned persons responsible for distribution as per law immediately. . 

3.       The District Administration should inquire into such allegations of the Petitioner and provide appropriate relief to her and her school. The Govt. may issue appropriate directions to the District administration and Police in this regard.

Kodikal Tamil Church, Mangalore.

1.       This is a clear case of attack on the Church and its sacred and valuable materials.

2.       The Police took immediate steps to register a case, investigated and filed Charge Sheet in to JMFC Court.

3.       The persons responsible for the attack are the accused in  the case filed  against ten persons in Crime N0 120/2008 ( Vide Page 42 in Ex.C.1375).

4.       The concerned Police shall pursue the matter to apprehend the absconding accused and arrange for prosecuting them with personal interest.   The Police shall give protection to the Church and its members whenever approached.  Special Public Prosecutor may be appointed to conduct the Criminal case.

5.       The concerned Police deserve compliments and the Govt. may issue written certificates of appreciation to them

6.       6. The Church persons may file a claim for compensation for the losses    to the Church due to attack  on the Church and the  injured Police  may file the claim before the Dy. Commissioner who shall hold inquiry, asses the damages and compensation and arrange for payment at the earliest.

Karnataka Missions Network, Mangalore:

      The observations in the report of the Commission may be treated as the findings regarding this Network.

Adoration Monastery, Mangalore.

1.       Attack on the Monastery and the sentiments of Christian religion and Christians as alleged is true.

2.       The attack was on the two nuns and two injured eye witnesses physically, mentally and sentimentally.

3.       The nature and extent of the attack is colossal and difficult to assess.

4.       The extent of damages  to the Church and the items therein already assessed by the Police and the Expert varies between Rs.19,000- 50,000/-.  The claim of compensation of the Authorities of the Church at Rs.3,00,000/-   or more if any has to be assessed by the Deputy Commissioner , Mangalore on laying a positive claim by the concerned persons and to be arranged for payment.

5.       The injured persons during attack as above may lay a claim for compensation before the Dy. Commissioner, D.K District who shall hold an inquiry and asses the compensation and arrange for payment at the earliest.

6.       The attackers or miscreants are said to be the aggrieved Hindus due to conversions by Christians and maligning Hindus and Hindu religion however to be decided ultimately.   The prosecution against the culprits shall be pursued with all seriousness by the Govt. by appointing special Public Prosecutor.

7.       The Govt. should sympathize with the Christian sentiments  due to attack in any form including writing.

8.       The Police have not failed to protect the Church whenever required, but shall continue to watch and protect with special attention particularly whenever required or approached.

9.       The Govt./Ruling BJP Party, the local Cabinet rank ministers have no involvement directly or indirectly in the attacks.

Milagres Church, Managalore

1.       This was an incident of continuation of the incident of attack on Adoration Monastery in the morning on 14th of September 2008.

2.       There was no actual attack either on Milagres Church or on the Christians by any Organistion like Sangha Pariwar, Bajarangadal etc.

3.       It was an incident of protest by the aggrieved Christians on 14-9-2008 due to the attack on Adoration Monastery in front of Milagres Church and near Adoration Monastery.

4.       The Police were to act with some force to prevent the loss of life or public property and to maintain law and order inevitably by resorting the lathi charge and bursting of the tear gas shells.

5.       There is no basis for the allegations that the Police acted excessively in exercising of their duties in such a situation.

6.       The result of the Police action did not harm or injure any participants in the protest due to the lathi charge or bursting of tear gas shells.

7.       On the other hand during the incident of protest by unruly mob due to pelting of stones, at least 15-20 Police Officers were injured.

8.       Barring the impression of the protestors that either Bajarangadal workers pelted stones on them or that they along with the Police Officers pelted stones on them appears to be beyond any basis and not supported by any evidence.

9.       The Police were to deal with a very big and mammoth crowd comprising of the Christian protestors exceeding 5000, other religion people and the onlookers only to maintain law and order and at the cost of suffering injuries by themselves.

10.   There is not even a slightest circumstance to believe that either the Government or the Ruling Party BJP or any political leaders were behind such incident.   But, on the other hand, it is in the evidence that provocative speeches by political leaders present at that time, specially Congress leaders,  aggravated the situation.

11.   The materials are sufficient to hold that the District Administration including the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police and Senior Police Officers took personal interest in dealing with the situation and prevented more serious consequences of harm to the protestors or the members of the public or loss of life or public property.

12.   The patience and the prudence of the leadership of Mr. Satish Kumar, Superintendent of Police, the inevitable miseries due to firing which could have been reported in similar situations was totally avoided and he and his team were complimented by local Christian leaders.

13.   The Commission is of the considered opinion that there was no excess action by the Police at the relevant time in the Milagres Church incident.

14.   Possibly in the process of inevitable Police action some innocent protestors or others might have been victimized or affected and they may be compensated suitably by the District Administration as a benevolent gesture in a welfare state if a claim is laid with supporting materials before the Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada who shall assess and arrange for payment at the earliest.   The injured Police Officers during the incident shall also be compensated accordingly by following the same procedure.

B.C.Road( Raktheshwari  Temple) incident, Bantwal

1.       The incident of protest on B.C.Road by Christian protestors in view of the attack on Churches is true.

2.       Such protest was  initially  intended  to be peaceful but turned emotional and  violent.

3.       There was a clash between the Christian protestors and certain persons called as Bajarangadal workers and others with the aggravating situation calling upon the police to act appropriately.  The police were justified in using the force to control the situation and to maintain law and order.

4.       Certain persons among the protestors and others including the police were injured during the incident..

5.       Participation of certain persons identified as wearing Kesari shawl or raising slogans gave an understanding to the protestors that they were Bajarangadal workers.   Such impression appears to be reasonable and probable.

6.       The District Administration and the police have not failed in their duty to deal with the matter.

7.       The police in spite of very little strength of 5-10 Police officers were able to control the situation with all sincerity and efficiency.

8.       The injured persons including the Police may lay a claim before the Deputy Commissioner, Mangalore for compensation due to any injuries suffered by them with supporting materials regarding which formal enquiry shall be conducted, compensation shall be assessed and paid to the victims.

9.       Deserving Police officers participating in action shall be commended by issuing Certificate of appreciation.

10.   Such a process should be expedited and completed at the earliest possible time.

11.   The Govt. may issue appropriate directions to the District administration and the Police for information and implementation.

St. Joseph’s Church ,Bajpe:

1.       There is no incident of attack either on the Church or on the protestors of this Church by the Police due to their use of force.

2.       Several persons among the protestors and the Police were injured during the incident.

3.       The use of the police force against the protestors to maintain law and order was not excessive and was reasonable and necessary.

4.       There is no involvement of either the Govt. or ruling party BJP or any persons on their behalf regarding this incident.

5.       The injured Christian protestors and Police Officers during the incident shall be compensated by laying a claim by them which shall be inquired by the Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada by following the formal procedure by assessing the compensation and arranging for payment at the earliest.

Lady Hill Pompi  Church, Surathkal

The observations in the report shall be treated as the findings of the Commission on  this Church.

Lady of Mercy Church, Fazeeru ( Bantwal)

The observations in the report shall be treated as the findings of the Commission on  this Church.

Mandyathar Mahima Prarthana Mandira, Belthangadi

1.       The allegation of attack on the Church or the Prayer Hall and the injury to a devotee Mr.Pascal is true.

2.       The persons involved in the attack are said to be the members belonging to Bajrangdal which has to be found out by the Police during the investigation of the complaint of the Petitioner.   However, the impression of the Petitioner that such persons attacked the Church may be well founded but has to be fixed by the Police.

3.       The items in the Church were damaged as alleged by the Petitioner and the loss is said to be Rs.32,000/- to Rs.35,000/- as a whole which has to be enquired and fixed on laying a claim by the Petitioner before the Deputy Commissioner to arrange the payment.

4.       The concerned Police shall take all the interest to find out the culprits and arrange for their prosecution according to law.

5.       The concerned Police shall give all the protection to the Church and the Petitioner as and when approached.

6.       The District Administration may verify whether there was any special reason for the miscreants to attack this Church.  The contention of Mr.Adiga, the learned Advocate for Hindu Memorialists is that because of the conversions carried out by the persons like the Petitioner such incidents have occurred  requires to be verified by the District Administration and to take appropriate action against such persons according to law.

Meramajalu Church, Mangalore

The observations in the report shall be treated as the findings of the Commission on  this Church.

Holy Cross Church-Kulashekhara

1.       The offended and provoked Christians had gathered in the Church to protest peacefully  against the attacks on Adoration Monastery and other Churches and not for usual or special prayers.

2.       The allegations of  Police excesses in the Church  Premises are  true.

3.       The  Resort to bursting of Tear Gas Shells  and Lathi Charge by the Police  on the protestors  in the  Church premises was not justified and excessive.

4.       The entry of  Police into the premises of the Church was without following legal requirements and amounts to violation of religious interests and  human rights  protected under the Constitution of India.   But it was not motivated or influenced by any other force or organization as alleged.   At any rate it was an imprudent ,unreasonable and inexperienced act.

5.       The little  Christian gathering of 200 to 300 for protest in the Church became big, violent  and uncontrollable after the mob from outside entered the Church premises along with the Police  became mixed up and uncontrollable.

6.       The impression of the protestors that workers of Bajrangdal were with the Police and colluded with them  during the action has no basis but may be probable  and true in view of the admissions of Mr Mahendra Kumar that Bajrangdal workers attacked all the Chrches or Prayer halls in the State of Karnataka, but not certain.

7.       The allegation that the Govt./ BJP/ and local BJP legislators  and local  Cabinet Ministers were behind the attackers has no basis and an imagination due to the zealous and excess action of the Police and due to impressions prevailing at the relevant time that such reasons may be responsible for the attack.

8.       The Police action injured many protestors unjustifiably and scared them and made them feel that they were unprotected by the District administration and the Local Police,

9.        The presence  or absence of women Police   during Police action is irrelevant and may be not possible  always, but still there were some women Police present at that time.

10.   The Tear Gas Shells used were patently time barred but still effective and served the purpose of controlling the mob to maintain law and order and there was no adverse effect  on the protestors or the Police due to its use.

11.   The protestors were justified in their conduct of violence due to the attacks on Adoration Monastery and number of Churches.

12.   Police were also equally agitated due to continuous indents of attacks and the protests by Christians and others for over two days and might have  been biased and agitated to act powerfully.

13.   13.  Lot of injustice has happened to Christian Protestors and innocent   persons present in the Church at the relevant time.

14.   There was no attack on the Church, but the attack on the sentiments.

15.   Inspite of being excessive in their action the Police were restrained in not resorting to firing  which could have been  normally justified in such situations admittedly and Mr. Satish Kumar and his Police team should be complimented in this regard.

16.   Damages if any to the Church or injured persons  during the incident shall be compensated if a suitable claim is laid with supporting materials before the  Deputy Commissioner, Mangalore who should hold a formal inquiry, assess the compensation and arrange payment at the earliest.

17.   The District Administration and the Police should identify the miscreants or its organization and initiate action to punish them as per law.

St.Joseph Church,  Vamanjuru.

1.       The alleged  incident of protest   in this Church is true.

2.       The Christian protestors in front of the Church became violent during protests   affecting the peace and public tranquility which was likely to result in damage to public property and danger to public peace.

3.       The Police had to use force to maintain law and order and to  protect public peace and property.

4.       There was no excess force used by the Police against the protestors.

5.       Few protestors and Police might have been injured due to the incident and lathi Charge by the Police.

6.       The use of TGS had its real effect of bringing the violent crowd under control with no proof of affecting the health of protestors or the Police.

7.       The presence of workers of Bajrangdal along with the Police in their action is doubtful and improbable and a phantom of impression or imagination of Protestors due to the similar circumstances prevailing at the relevant time.

8.       If anybody including the Police are injured they may lay a claim for compensation before the Dy. Commissioner, Mangalore who shall hold an inquiry, assess the compensation and arrange for payment to such claimants at the earliest.  The Govt. shall issue appropriate directions to the District Administration in this regard.

St.Sebastian Church, Permanur

1.       The incident of protest by the Christians in the Church was true and genuine.

2.       The attack by the Police and some youths projecting as workers of Bajrangdal on the innocent peaceful Christian protestors is true.

3.       The Police action against the Church and the Protestors was excessive and unreasonable.   They have violated the expected norms prescribed in Police Manual

4.       The Police violated the Christian sentiments by entering into the Church and meddling with sacred items and moving on the sacred areas and unnecessarily damaging the portions of Church building by hitting with the butts of the guns.

5.       Many Christian protestors and Police were unnecessarily injured during Police action which could have been avoided at least to some extent.

6.       There was negligence in not providing medical aid or at least first aid to the injured persons  during the incident.

7.       The damages to the Church to be compensated on laying claim by the concerned persons before the Dy. Commissioner, Mangalore who shall hold a formal inquiry , assess the same and arrange for payment at the earliest.

8.       The Govt. shall initiate action against all the top Police Officers  above the rank of PSI, who participated in the Police action directly and indirectly for use of excessive force and negligence.

9.       Whoever is responsible for such failures shall be admonished   openly to the information of the members of the Public through press and media

New Life Church, Mangalore

1.       The allegations of conversion or attempted conversions by persons belonging to this Church appears to be true and probable.

2.       There was no justification for anyone to meddle with the Christian sentiments or their activities on the ground of such conversions except to tackle the matter according to law.

3.       The matter relating to Kursu gudde which is pending before the Deputy Commissioner, Mangalore shall be dealt with according to law and till then the status quo should be maintained by all the concerned persons including the Petitioners and the Police shall take all precautions to prevent any one from grabbing the Government land under the guise of religious sentiments or religious activities.

4.       The concerned Police shall pursue all criminal proceedings against any miscreants relating to the incident of such conversion and encroachment of Government land like Kursu gudde in Pachanady village.

5.       All protection to Bondel Church legal activities shall be provided by the Police as and when approached.

6.       The Govt. land in Khursu Gudde should be guarded by the Police and District Administration against any more encroachment by anybody except to regulate any genuine activities of any religion without violating law and order and legal norms.

7.       The Govt. or BJP had no role to play in such events by two religions except to act as per law through the concerned authorities and Police.

8.       The Police have done their best to maintain law order during such events and in protecting the Govt. property in Khursu Gudde as against all forces justifiably.

Shree Vittobha Rukmaee Mandira,Thokkotu

1.       The Commission records a finding that there must be a truth in the allegations made by the Petitioner inPetition No.173/2008 regarding the alleged attack on Vittobha Rukmaee Mandira hoping that theconcerned police officer of the District will take care of the matter according to law the Commissionrecords its impression of the same as above.   In the context the Commission is convinced that the Hindu temple was attacked by the  mob in retaliation or as a counter attack.

2.       This Commission having assessed the totality of the materials produced is of the considered opinion that this Church and Vittobha Rukmaee Mandira are attacked by the protestors and counter protestors, that such attacks offended the sentiments of the Christian protestors and also the Hindu members who had gathered in the temple.

3.       It is true that when the situation went beyond the control, the police have taken all the necessary action to bring back the normalcy within the shortest time possible.   As already pointed out the good conduct of the petitioners was also one of the reason for easy control.  It is complimentary that S.P. and his Police team was capable of bringing back the normalcy within the shortest time in a situation where they were confronted with rivalry conduct of   Christian protestors and Hindu zealot and other mob misusing the situation to compel the Police to act normally if not indiscriminately.

Padua Composite PU College, Mangalore

1.       The allegation of attack on this Institution is true.

2.       The allegation of attack on the Petitioner Mr.Micheal Santhamayur and the injury to him is also true.

3.       Number of items belonging to this Institution were damaged during the attack.

4.       The persons involved in the attack cannot be fixed by the Commission  for want of material evidence.  However it is for the Police to find out and arrange for prosecuting them according to law.

5.       The Petitioner shall be paid the compensation after he lays  a claim before the Deputy Commissioner, Mangalore who shall hold an enquiry and assess the compensation and arrange for payment.

6.       The Police shall pursue the investigation on the  complaint of the Petitioner.

Pentecostal Church of Lord, Ujire

1.       The  allegation of attack  on the Church and the Petitioner and others is true.

2.       The injuries suffered by the Petitioner and other devotees of the Church due to attack  and the  medical treatment they took as stated is true.

3.       The miscreants are the  9 persons who are prosecuted by the Police on the Complaint of the Petitioner and there may be others also whom the Police may search and include in the Prosecution.

4.       Police and the District administration have taken all care and concern regarding the incident of this church and they deserve compliments.

5.       Neither Bajrangdal, the Govt. nor the BJP ruling Party had anything to do with the attack on this Church or persons and  the whole event is politicized by the Petitioner as an afterthought to join others in such allegations.

6.       The Petitioner Sri.Christu Das is already paid the compensation  of  Rs.8510/- for the loss to the Church and his Medical expenses.   He and the devotees if suffering may lay a claim before the Dy. Commissioner for the balance of compensation if  any supported by evidence which shall be inquired, determined and paid deducting the balance of amount already paid.

Rhema Workshop Centre, Zoe Ministries, Mangalore

The definite inferences in the report may be treated as findings  regarding this Centre.

Prayer Hall, Hosabettu, Mangalore

1.       The allegation of attack on the Prayer Hall as alleged by the Petitioner is true.

2.       The allegation of damages to the articles of the Prayer Hall and the assault on the wife of the Petitioner as alleged is true.

3.       The attackers are the 10 persons identified by the Police during the investigation and mentioned in the charge sheet filed before the Court (Details are found at Sl.No.98 of Annexure-L).  The allegation of involvement of Bajrangdal workers has no basis.

4.       The Petitioner is paid the Compensation of Rs.10,620/- by the District Administration.  Since he is not satisfied with the amount he may lay a claim before the Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada with supported materials who shall hold an enquiry assess the compensation and arrange for the payment at the earliest.

5.       The concerned Police and the District Administration have discharged their duties promptly and effectively including protection and relief given to the Petitioner and they deserve compliments.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Bantawal

7.       The allegation of attack on the Church and the damage to the Grotto is true. 

8.       The ground of attack is the alleged activities of  conversions in the Church.   But no instances of conversions alleged or proved.

9.       The miscreants are the four accused who are prosecuted by the concerned Police.   Whether they are the workers of Bajrangadal   or not there is no sufficient evidence to fix , but it is an issue which may be decided by the Court in the prosecution.

10.   The concerned Police have taken immediate and appropriate action after the incident and deserve compliments.

11.   The persons concerned about this Church may lay a claim for compensation if so desired for the damages due to the attack before the Dy. Commissioner, Mangalore who shall inquire, assess and arrange for payment at the earliest.

St.George Church, Ujire(Belthangadi)

The observations in the report shall be treated as the findings of the Commission on  this Church.

St.Francis Xavier Church, Moorje (Bantwal)

The observations in the report shall be treated as the findings of the Commission on  this Church.

Rosa Mistika High School, Mangalore

The observations in the report shall be treated as the findings of the Commission on  this