Hindu extremists burn effigies of cardinal, bishop in India

Published: 2005-12-27

RANCHI, India (CNS) -- A Hindu extremist group repeatedly has burned effigies of an Indian cardinal and auxiliary bishop, claiming they are trying to convert Hindus. Every evening since Dec. 13, activists of Hindu Jagaran Manch have burned the effigies of Ranchi Cardinal TelesphoreToppo and Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Barwa in various parts of Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The agency reported Dec. 27 that the Hindu protest started after the prelates spoke against Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda's plan to enact a law forbidding forced religious conversions. Munda announced this plan to enact the anti-conversion bill during a pro-Hindu rally in Ranchi Dec. 10. Six people under the banner of Kendriya Sarna Samiti -- the collective name for animist tribal religions -- have set the fires.

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