Nagaland: Missionaries set Hindu Temple on fire

The pseudo secularists and the media of that mindset blamed
the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for the Kandhamal situation without making
any ground study. Let them come to Barak Valley of Assam and have
independent and objective look at the nefarious and provocative designs
of the missionaries to convert the Hindus.

Christian missionaries as a part of their proselytisation
drive after abortive attempts at conversion have again targeted the
Hindu Rongmei Naga inhabited village of Ujan Tarapur, near Banskandi.
Under the guidance of their pastor they attacked the temple of Goddess
Kali and set the idol on fire, besides causing extensive damage to the
temple.

On the basis of the complaint lodged with the Lakhipur police
station by the Rongmeis, the police took prompt action and arrested
Thuirangdin Rongmei (47), Pawhailung Rongmei (63) and Alum Rongmei
(35). Thuirangdin is from the Tamenlong district of Manipur while two
others are from Barak Valley of Assam. Another missionary involved in
the crime identified as Miuri Rongmei is absconding.

Additional SP of Cachar Pradip Ranjan Kar, officer in-charge
of Lakhipur Seva Singh and magistrate Ranjit Kumar Laskar rushed to the
spot on receipt of information and arrested the missionaries who were
produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court at Silchar. These
missionaries have been chargesheeted under sections 120(B), 153(A),
295(A) of 427/435/34 IPC.

According to the complaints of Hindu Nagas, the Christian
missionaries from Tamenlong in Manipur in collusion with their Barak
Valley activists have been converting the Hindus of Ujan Tarapur
through allurements and even by threats. Zeliangrong Haraku Association
(ZHA), an organisation of Naga Tribes—Zeme, Rongmei and Liyangmei—has
taken serious exception to the decision of the Myanmar Mission of the
Council of Nagaland Baptist Churches (CNBC) to evangelise the Nagas.

The Council at its last annual meeting held at Paren in
Nagaland has adopted a resolution to conduct evangelisation programme.
The resolution calls upon the Baptist churches to take positive steps
in this regard.

Quite intriguing is the use of code and the organised efforts
of the Baptist churches to work for the realisation of Myanmar mission.
Details of this mission are not known. The CNBC has reiterated to
“uphold this mission project in every possible way as a joint ministry
in the world evangelisation mission.”

Gaifui Rongmei, Pinsingpoi Rongmei and Chinkudai Rongmei of
Ujan Tarapur had complained earlier that “this proselytisation drive is
not new.” Three missionaries have been frequenting their areas and
forcing them to embrace Christianity. This process started in 1996 when
copies of Bible were distributed among the 50 odd families of the
village. Following year their visit was with questionnaires to all of
them and particularly on the essence of the Bible and what they have
learnt about Jesus Christ and Christianity.

Panicked villagers met Kalyan Ashram members who immediately
took up the matter with the then deputy commissioner, Pawan Kumar
Borthakur and SP Jeevan Singh as well as the subsidiary intelligence
bureau officials. The villagers said the missionaries abused their gods
and goddesses and advised them not to offer worship at their apoo
ragwang (Shiva) and paimadiliu (Kali) temples. They also alleged that
the missionaries not only resorted to coercive methods but also
extorted money from 43 families.