PTI
Motor cycles of Christen community burnt by local shopkeepers and residents in Majitha town near Amritsar, Punjab.
'Smoking' Jesus Protests: From Meghalaya to Majitha
 Police have registered a case against the publisher and seized around 123 books carrying an "objectionable picture" of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and a beer can on the other which has sparked a controversy triggering condemnations from various quarters."We have registered a case under Section 295(A) against Skyline Publications of New Delhi for hurting religious sentiments. We have seized the books from the distributor as well as the school where it was supplied," DSP Vivek Syiem told PTI today. He said a police team will be leaving for Delhi soon to carry forward the investigation, indicating that persons responsible would be arrested. Authorities of St Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School here, where the cursive writing book was supplied among the students of Class I to IV, yesterday filed an FIR against the publisher after the objectionable picture of Christ came to notice. The cursive writing book meant for Class I is a spelling tutor. For the alphabet 'I', the word 'Idol' is used in the book. Against this word is printed the picture of Jesus Christ with the scandalous representation. The picture is also printed in other cursive writing books of Class II, III and IV. The Skyline Publication has tendered an apology for hurting the people’s religious sentiments. "Action has been initiated to retrieve the erroneous book from all places where it has been sent," the publication said in a statement last night. Condemning the lack of respect for religious symbols, Father Dominic Jala of Shillong Archdiocese said he has referred the matter to the Bishops Conference in New Delhi which would pursue it further. "We are shocked and hurt by this act where Jesus Christ has been portrayed in a highly objectionable manner. We condemn the total lack of respect for religions by the publisher," the Archbishop said. Tension in Punjab Tension prevailed in Majitha town when irate shopkeepers set afire 25 motor-cycles of Christians who allegedly vandalised their business establishments during their protest against the controversial textbooks. Police said a group of about 50 people from the Christian community were allegedly forcing shopkeepers of Majitha town, about 20 kms from Amritsar, to pull down their shutters while protesting. When the protesters started vandalising the shops and smashing the shutters and glow signs, local residents and shopkeepers assembled and attacked them. Seeing people assembling in large number, the agitating men fled the spot leaving behind their motor-bikes. The shopkeepers and residents then set afire 25 of their vehicles, they said. The situation in the Majitha assembly constituency became tense following the incident, police said, adding police force have been deployed in the town. |