Manipur State, the latest in a series of attacks against the Believer’s Church, news reports said Monday June 6. Compass Direct, which investigates the plight of persecuted Compass Direct, which investigates the plight of persecuted Christians, said details have just emerged about the May 29 attack in Lamding, Thoubal district.
"One person was injured when he fell into a ditch in panic after hearing the gunshots. However, 30 church workers and missionaries who were on the grounds at the time of the attack remained unharmed," Compass Direct said, citing local sources.
TORCH LIGHTS
The attack began after a Maruti Gypsy jeep drove slowly up to the premises at around 11 pm local time, witnesses said. “When they turned on their torch lights to see who was in the vehicle, the people in the jeep opened fire,” the Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei, pastor of the Believer’s Church, told Compass.
“They fired as many as 40 rounds in the air and around the church, due to which there was panic and chaos in the church area. As a result, one of our workers, Mr. Jangkhogin Chongloi, fell into a ditch and received minor injuries,” Vaiphei added.
Earlier that day, a Hindu villager who sympathized with Christians had warned Vaiphei by telephone that villagers were planning an attack on the church that night, Compass Direct claimed.
HINDU MILITANTS
No one has claimed responsibility for the fourth attack in eight months, but local church officials suspect Hindu militants were behind the violence.
The first attack occurred on November 23, 2004, when a crowd of Hindus demolished the church while construction was underway. A second attack took place on March 8, when about 20 people attacked the church and dismantled its boundary wall, church officials said. The church was reportedly attacked again on April 19.
On February 3, the court ordered local police to provide a security guard, but protection has been irregular at best, Compass Direct said, citing local church officials. Members of the church submitted a memorandum to Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh to protest against what they see as the lack of police action.
MINORITY FAITHS
“Lamding Believer’s Church and other victims of minority faiths approach your high office once again to seek protection from anti-people elements,” the memo reportedly said. "Despite of repeated demands prompted by series of attacks and threats to the minority people, security measures are yet to be taken in this regard.”
The situation at Lamding has been tense since the previous attack on April 19. A “Committee Against the Construction of the Church at Lamding” (CACCL), formed by local villagers, has issued continual threats against the church members.
“On April 21, Mr. Nityai Meitei, convenor of the CACCL, told a local newspaper, the Sangai Express, that the Believer’s Church should vacate the land or they would have to face the consequences,” Vaiphei told Compass.
Police officials said the attack was unplanned and alleged the attackers are from a local extremist group called the ‘Valley’ because they were carrying sophisticated arms.
