Tue, 2012-09-04 18:04 — editor
By K.T.Rajasingham | Chennai, 04
September, (Asiantribune.com):
Sri Lankan Christians – Catholics, 179 of them from Chillaw who went on
a pilgrimage to Poornimatha Church in Thanjavur and Velankanni Shrine Basilica
, were attacked by a group of Tamil Nadu fanatics, when they were taken in
three buses to the Tirucirapalli Airport this afternoon.
According to available reports the buses were damaged and a few Sri
Lankans in the buses also sustained injuries.
These Sri Lankans, 179 of them including 75 women and 60 children, from
yesterday afternoon were holed up at the Catholic Church in Tanjavur after they
were surrounded attacked by Tamil Nadu fanatics.
The Sri Lankan nationals had worshipped at the Poondi Matha shrine last
evening as part of their annual pilgrimage when activists of Naam Tamizhar
Iyakkam headed by film director Seeman, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and P
Nedumaran-led Tamizhar Desiya Poduvudamai Katchi, staged a demonstration asking
them to go back.
The pilgrims, later arrived at Velankanni this morning to offer worship
at the Shrine Basilica, police said.
As the activists protested, police personnel on security duty for the
ongoing annual festival rushed to the spot, arrested them and brought the
situation under control within a few minutes, sources said.
The pilgrims later proceeded to Tiruchirappalli from where they are
expected to leave for Sri Lanka.
This was brought to the notice of the Deputy High Commission office in
Chennai and the Deputy High Commissioner A. Rajakaruna took up the matter with
the External Affairs Ministry in Colombo.
Asian Tribune learnt that Sri Lankan President has agreed to send a
special flight to Tiruchy to bring back those stranded and attacked Sri
Lankans. The flight is expected to arrive in Tiruchy and leave for Sri Lanka by
9 PM today.
In the meantime, it is learnt that the Deputy High Commission tried its
best to contact the Catholic priest of the Poornimatha Church in Thanjavur and
unfortunately he was not available to seek any assistance to the Sri Lankan
pilgrims who were attacked in the Church vicinity.
Asian Tribune further learnt that so far not a single Catholic
missionaries from Tamil Nadu, India has come forward to assist and safeguard
the 179 innocent Sri Lankan pilgrims.
Furthermore, so far not single catholic organizations in Tamil Nadu has
even come forward to condemn the fanaticism of the Tamil Nadu political leaders
for involving in the attacks of innocent Catholic pilgrims from Sri Lanka.
In the meantime, already Sri Lanka Government has rightly issued a
travel warning appealing to Sri Lankan nationals not to travel to Tamil Nadu.
It is also proposed that Sri Lankan diaspora too will be warned not to
travel to Tamil Nadu in the future.
- Asian Tribune -
