Anatongre assures no harassment of Catholics
Dimapur, July 28 (MExN): The Kiphire district administration has squashed the resolutions of the village council of Anatongre village taken prohibiting Catholic members from setting up a church. The administration said the village’s resolutions were unauthorized and against civil ethos, without legal sanction under the Constitution or Fundamental Rights and are counter-productive.
A copy of the order nullifying Anatongre Village Council’s resolutions was received here today. The administration took note of the dismantling of a Catholic church in the village on July 9, 2010 “under the command” of the village’s council, citizens’ union and students’ union. The church was pulled down on the grounds that decisions were taken in 1973 and 1996 prohibiting establishment of any denomination other than Baptist. The issue has now moved beyond the jurisdiction of the village council and even the district administration, to draw serious notice of the state government, the order reminded.
On examination of Anatongre village’s three organizations’ resolutions the government found the decisions to be unauthorized and against the wellbeing of the public and potentially counter-productive. “Such resolutions are without the legal sanction under the Fundamental Rights (of the Indian Constitution)” the administration stated.
Under the provisions established under Law and the constitution, the administration decreed, all councils or unions or civil organizations in the district that all “such” unauthorized resolutions passed by them and contrary to Law are nullified with immediate affect. Violation of the order would attract stern action under the law, the administration added.
No harassment assured
A copy of a written commitment to the administration assuring magnanimity and signed by the head GB, citizen’s union and students’ union of the village was also received here today. On behalf of the villagers, the three organizations assured to “not harass the 8 family members of Catholic church” and would not “demand or campaign or force them to surrender before the village council.” The village’s bodies assured to “maintain peace and tranquility among us in the village.”
