In a brazen act, a mob of 30 people stormed into a prayer meeting on Sunday morning in a hamlet in far-flung seaside town of Kalva and thrashed the church workers and worshippers.
Five persons reported to be members of the Bajrang Dal have been taken into custody and have been booked under Sections 295 (A), 298, 452, 323, 324, 143, 147 and 149 and they are reported to be from Bajrang Dal outfit.
Talking to Deccan Herald from Kalva, one of the complainants Sunil Mantode told over the phone that the mob barged into the prayer meeting taking place at the hall of Christian Faith Centre and bashed four church workers -Rajesh Vishwakarma, Ajay Vishwakarma, Shambhunath Yadav and Gulab Vishwakarma- and worshippers.
“We were forced to take up the matter at the local Kalva police station where incidentally we had reported early this month about the threats and intimidation by the communalists.
“On October 6, in the same prayer hall, Arul Raj (a pastor) was attacked while he was conducting prayer services and was dragged to police station. An attempt was made to frame him up in false cases. Thereafter the next two Sunday services were held under police protection,” Mantode said.