Most of the readers would be aware that two groups of Christians clashed in Ulundurpet that resulted in the police firing on the rioting mob causing two deaths. The story reported in Newindpress.com is as follows:
"Rival groups of Christians clash - Two killed in police firing in Villupuram
Monday March 10 2008 01:55 IST
P ARUL
VILLUPURAM: Two persons were killed and another injured in police firing at an unruly mob following a clash between two groups of a church in Ulundurpet on Sunday.
As the Dalit Christians of St Jabamalai Annai Church in Eraiyur were reportedly neglected, they built a ‘Saghaya Madha church’ in the area three months ago, and sought appointment of a priest for it.
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam also took up the issue. A few days ago, 15 persons went on an indefinite fast, demanding the Arch Bishop, Puducherry-Cuddalore appoint a priest. Revenue officials and police tried to pacify them and a contingent of policemen was posted to the village.
Meanwhile, posters were put up by the VCK in the village, demanding closure of St Jabamalai Church and recognition to Saghaya Madha Church. This provoked the rival group, dominated by BC Christians, and around 500 of them went on the rampage on Sunday, assaulting Dalits and torching their huts. Over 30 huts were gutted.
Superintendent of Police Amalraj along with a police team resorted to lathi charge. The mob retaliated and indulged in stone-pelting, injuring several policemen. As the violence continued, the police opened fire, in which M Periya Nayagam (40) and A Magimai (24) were killed on the spot.
Another person, Devasagayam, was admitted to Government Hospital. Over 40 persons were injured in the lathi-charge. District Collector Prajendra Navneeth and senior police officials rushed to the spot. A large contingent of policemen have been posted to the village."
I reproduce below an extract from the very appropriate comments of Sri Vedaprakash in Hindu Civilization.
"The failure at Erayur is serious: As the mass-media flashes news immediately, definitely the Church has been in jitters, nervous and really worried in responding to the violent behaviour of their believers. "Oh God, Oh God, why you have forsaken me?"[1], thus crying the affected believers. Jesus' assurance[2] that, "You all one in Christ, whether one is black or white, gentile or Jew" has failed utterly, as these believers have decided to fight with each other[3]. Karunanidhi and his Black Parivar aid and abet: Thus, when the Black Parivar, atheist Karunanidhi and others have been creating a lot of tamasha, sensation and excitement exploiting the old-man Arumugaswamy, singing Tevram in Tamil and the advocates getting benefits, the Catholic believers want separate Churches to worship, pray and conduct mass. Can Karunanidji help them? Now, Christians fight with each other to worship the same God, conduct prayers invoking the same God and inviting the Priests-Christian Dikshitas[4] to do so. But the Catholic-Disksithas refuse to come. The Catholic Bishops refuse to recognize their Church built. How that they have TWO to approach ONE[5]? Why Karu does not issue GO in this effect? Why the secular Ruler keep quite or indulging in dereliction in his duty? The Black Parivar too has been keeping quite instead of leading the Scheduled Caste Catholics to their own Church, demanding the Catholic priests to conduct the prayers or select one Arumugaswamy-type Anthonysamy or some other Catholicsamy[6] to lead the march! Had they done so, this clash could have been avoided. The two souls could have been saved. On March 9, 2008 (Sunday): The faithful Christians clashed with each other in the name of Jesus Christ or Mary, as reported by the TV-channels. Of course, they pointed out that they were Vanniars and Dalits (Scheduled Caste). Ironically, the media continues to use the term "Dalit", though it has already been announced that it is legally incorrect to use such term."