CPM attack on Christians  

Bombay : A member of the Gananmata mission in the Talasari area of Thane district, Bro. Valentine Rodrigues, was allegedly attacked by a group of CPM activists with athis. on Feb. 28 on the suspicion that he was a member of the rival Kashtakari Sanghatana. A mission statement said that Bro. Rodrigues was retuning from the mission hospital at Vadoll on his motor cycle when he saw a large lathi-wielding group marching across the road from the direction of Vadoli village, which is known to be a stronghold of the CPM. Sensing troubles, he stopped his motor cycle to wait for the group to cross the road but he was attacked from behind by some six men who shouted that he was “one of them”. The reference was apparently to the Kashtakari Sanghatana, which was holding its meeting that day at Tarsal. 1 ho Sangatana was started by two Jesuists of the mission, who have now fallen out of the church authorities in this largey tribal area of the Warlis. Its activities have been resented by the CPM which has a base in the area and refuses to make distinction between the sanghatana and the church. Sunday’s incident is the third since the rivary turned vioent in October, 1980, when a church in Shisne was damaged by CPM activists. A year ater, CPM activists allegedly forcib y harvested the paddy of three Adivasi Catholic families at Shionda village. A CPM MLA from the area is a so alleged to have threatened the mission priests. [Times of India March 4 ]