Kolhapur: A Christian gathering was attacked by Hindutva forces during Sunday prayers in a small village in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district. The incident occurred at the New Life Church in Kowad village ahead of Christmas on December 23. The Opposition has alleged that attackers were backed by the government.
According to sources, a mob of around 15-20 people with their faces covered, barged into the church where a group of around 40 people were offering prayers on Sunday afternoon. They attacked the devotees leaving ten people injured.
One of the devotees claimed that the mob was carrying knives, empty beer bottles, swords and iron rods. He added that the attackers also vandalised vehicles in the village.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik told that the cops are claiming the involvement of right wing. Police suspects the involvement of radical groups of Belgaum in Karnataka. It believes that the attackers fled towards Karnataka border.