The Hindu

CHICKBALLAPUR, Dec 31: In view of the inquiries into the two incidents of attacks on churches in Chickballapur district reaching a dead end, the police have decided to close the cases.

Chickballapur Superintendent of Police Ravindra Prasad told presspersons here on Monday that he had instructed the officials to close the cases registered in the Chickballapur Rural and Manchenahalli police stations and file a “C” report in the jurisdictional courts before December 31. In the absence of any eye-witnesses in the two incidents, the police had not been able to identify or trace those who had stoned the two churches.

‘C’ reports

Thus, the cases were being closed and “C” reports filed, he said.

Prasad said that he had informed Justice Somashekar Commission of Inquiry, which is probing the recent attacks on churches in different parts of the State, that the Chickballapur district police had decided to close the two cases.

On September 15, a church at Chikkakadigenahalli village on the outskirts of Chickballapur was attacked.

A couple of days later, another church in the forest area at Bandiramanahalli village in Manchenahalli police station limits in Gauribidanur taluk was vandalised.

Prasad said that the two incidents in the district were “minor” compared to those reported from other parts of the State. The Chickballapur incidents were mere “acts of mischief and not attacks”, he added.

The church at Chikkakadigenahalli was constructed on a private farmland without getting the land converted, the Superintendent of Police said.

Panel’s visit

The commission has visited the two churches and recorded the views of those who had filed affidavits before it.