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NHRC takes up attack on missionaries in Allahabad

Taking suo moto cognisance of the attacks on four Christian missionaries in Allahabad on January 22, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and director general of police.

The state government has been asked to respond within two weeks to the NHRC notices of Wednesday.

The Commission asked the government to take immediate steps to provide relief to the victims and their families, prevent a recurrence of such events, and restore the confidence of the Christian community.

Four employees of the Hope in Jesus, a missionary organisation, were forcibly taken from the Minto park area to the Bajrang Dal campsite in Magh Mela and beaten up, according to the first information report.

The NHRC has taken a strong view of the rising atrocities on minorities, particularly Christians, in the country recently, and directed the government to ensure that their rights are adequately protected. Regarding conversions, NHRC clarified that the Constitution has guaranteed religious freedom and the right to propagate their religion peacefully to all citizens.

The Commission feels the Jhabua nuns rape case, burning of religious institutions of minorities in Gujarat and the killing of a missionary and his two minor sons in Orissa were not isolated incidents, but indicated the rising trend of religious intolerance in the country.

Earlier this week, the NHRC had issued notices to the Centre, Orissa, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh governments regarding the incidents.

UNI

The Christian Attacks Row

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