A Christmas Carol singers’ group, which has women and children, were forced to take refuge in a Church after they were allegedly attacked by DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) ‘activists’ on the 23rd of December in Pathamuttam near Kottayam in Kerala.
As per reports, men associated with the DYFI, allegedly went berserk and damaged equipment at the Church, destroyed the food, targeted four nearby houses and molested the women. While DYFI claims to be an independent youth organisation, many CPI(M) leaders including former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya were part of the DYFI.
Seven people were arrested in connection with the incident, including six DYFI ‘activists’. Those arrested were later granted bail. And now, the people are scared of further attacks and hence, continue to remain at the Church, fearing for their lives.
Johnson PC, committee secretary of the St Paul’s Anglican Church, where the victims had taken refuge, told TNM, “On December 23, a 45 member Carol team was visiting homes in the area. But when they reached one of the homes, a group of DYFI workers allegedly joined the team and started calling them ugly words without provocation. The DYFI workers began harassing the girls in the group, and it was alleged that girls of the Carol group were molested. When we questioned their actions, they attacked us and destroyed our instruments. Then we informed the police, and they reached the spot and directed us to stop carolling, and so we returned to the church.”
He continued, “Food was arranged for the carolling group members inside the church. When we reached the church and started to distribute the food to the kids, a fifty-member group of DYFI workers attacked my home. At that time, only my wife Lincy and our kid were at home. But they brutally attacked her. Then they allegedly entered the church, attacked the members and destroyed church property, and our food. As part of the attack, many members of the church were injured. One of our church members, Yamiya C Thankachen, was severally injured in the attack. Later, the police reached the spot and admitted the injured members to the hospital.”
The National Commission for Minorities directed the Kerala chief secretary and the Director General of Police to ensure the safety of the Christians and enable their return as they continued to be in the Church out of fear even after eight days.
In a bitter instance of irony, while the women after being molested by alleged DYFI ‘activists’ continued to fear for their lives, the Communist government in Kerala was busy organizing a ‘Women’s Wall‘ for ‘Gender Justice’ to facilitate the desecration of the Sabarimala Temple.
The Jacobite Syrian Church also extended its support to the Kerala government in its bid to desecrate Sabarimala. The Church was busy gathering 1 lakh women for the desecration of Sabarimala while certain Christian women claimed to be fearful of their lives due to DYFI ‘activists’.
Churches, in recent times, have had a very complicated relationship with women and children to put it mildly. Therefore, it isn’t really surprising that they prioritized the desecration of Sabarimala over the plight of the women who claim to have been attacked and molested by DYFI ‘activists’.
Scores of women in Burkhas were also observed in the gathering. Amusingly enough, such commitment towards gender justice is hardly observed when it comes to the matter of Triple Talaq. Then, it becomes a matter of interference in the Islamic faith.
It appears that the Communist government did succeed in its endeavours. The Police is reported to have aided two women to enter the Temple violating the age-old tradition of Sabarimala.
