Carol singers seek refuge at church fearing ‘DYFI attack’

KOTTAYAM: A Christmas carol singers’ group, including women and children, have taken refuge at a church near here after they were attacked by a group of men, allegedly DYFI activists. The group, over 30 people, have been staying at St Paul's Anglican Church at Pathamuttom since last Sunday.
The carol group alleged that they were abused and attacked by the group while they were visiting houses singing carols as part of Christmas celebrations in a colony in the locality.Based on the complaint of the group members, seven people, including one minor person, were arrested and later remanded.
The court granted bail to all the arrested and ordered that the seven people should not enter Panachikkad panchayat for the next three months. However, the singers, fearing further attack by the gang, refuse to leave the church.
Meanwhile, police, who have been giving them round-the-clock protection, said there was no further threat to their lives or the law and order situation in the region. “If any of the seven people breach the court order, we will arrest them and their bail would be revoked by the court for violating the bail condition,” said Anoop C Nair, Chingavanam SI.
Fr P J Paulose, a senior member of the group, said they were attacked and women among them were abused by DYFI members on December 23 night. He also alleged that the group pelted stones at the church at night and one of the girls sustained injury on her face. He also alleged that the police charged a case with bailable sections, and the court granted them bail as expected.
However, Chingavanam police said that they had charged cases against the seven people under sections 452 and 354, both non-bailable sections.