Two Catholics Die In Police Firing, Leaders Condemn Police Firing

NEW DELHI, MAR. 10, 2008 (CBCI News):

Two Catholics died in police firing at Eraiyur near Elavanasurkottai in Ulundurpetin Pondicherry Archdiocese on Sunday, Mar. 9.

When a section of people objected to a protest by Dalit Christians and ransacked their houses, police opened fire killing two persons.

The dead are: M. Periyanayagam (40) and Mahimai (30).

The All India Catholic Union has condemned “in the strongest terms” the police firing on Catholics.

The Catholic Union has sent its condolences to the families of the dead persons and demanded that the families be given full compensation by the government.

Also, the organization has demanded an enquiry into the circumstances of the police firing and the transfer of concerned Police and Civil Administration officials from the area whose inability to gauge the growing tension between two groups which resulted in a confrontation