Forced Entry
In Sunday's attack, 16 men and women - including some who had participated in the August attack - forced the GEMS watchman to give them access to the compound on Sunday night, claiming they wanted to carry out a Hindu religious ritual at a river on the opposite side of the compound.
"When they turned back from the river, they found the gate was locked. It is normally locked at about 6 p.m. every day for security reasons," Pastor E. C. Johnson, regional coordinator of GEMS, told Compass. "Then they broke open the gate and launched an attack on the Christians."
Protesters Damage Property, Injure Police
This morning about 250 people protested outside the GEMS compound, blocking the traffic on the main road and puncturing the tires of the GEMS school buses, he said. "They also attacked a vehicle belonging to a police official."
The mob later damaged two other police vehicles, including a riot control vehicle, and broke a policeman's jaw.
GEMS has submitted a letter containing the names of the 16 attackers to the superintendent of police in Rohtas district. Policemen were called to the compound earlier today to record an official complaint.
District Magistrate Vivek Kumar Singh and Police Superintendent Batchu Singh Meena were not available for comment.
State Elections Scheduled
Bihar state is under federal rule, with state assembly elections scheduled from October 18 to November 19. Two coalitions will contest the vote - the United Progressive Alliance, led by the Congress Party, and the National Democratic Alliance led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Election results will be announced on November 22.
Copyright (c) 2005 Compass Direct
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