11 held for Kolhapur priest assault

MORAL POLICE: The VHP men beat up the priests saying that the priests were forcibly converting people to Christanity.

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Kolhapur (Maharashtra): Eleven Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists accused of mercilessly beating up two priests in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra have been arrested by the police.

"A high-level probe has been ordered into the incident . The guilty will get the strongest possible punishment," said

Mahrashtra Deputy Chief Minister, R R Patil had promised a high-level probe into the incident, saying that the guilty would get the strongest possible punishment.

In a shocking attack on Tuesday, two priests from Ichalkaranji, in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district, were severely beaten up by Bajrang Dal and VHP activists.

The VHP activists alleged that the priests were engaged in converting Hindus to Christianity.

The priests were dragged to the local police station after they were mercilessly beaten up in full public view.

Even more shockingly, the police detained the priests but took no action against the activists who beat them up.

"It's highly shameful. It's as if the Bajrang Dal does just not understand the concept of law and order," Congress leader Rajiv Shukla had said on Tuesday.

Last week, a pastor in Jaipur was attacked by a right wing group for preaching Christianity. The police felt that time that the presence of media cameras added fuel to the fire.

Five people were arrested in connection with the attack. The attack - allegedly by VHP, Bajrang Dal activists - took place on Sunday triggering off protests by student and Christian groups in Jaipur.