Hindutva goons reportedly assaulted and forcibly smeared ash on the foreheads of members of a Christian gathering on Tuesday, January 15 in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
Two video clips shared by Tamil Nadu-based human rights activist Nehemiah Christie show a group of Hindutva goons shout and threaten a gathering, reportedly of members of the Christian community. Seemingly, in response to one person in the gathering saying that they are brothers, one Hindutva goon retorted, “If you are my brother, come, come, then, prove it (by applying ash on your forehead). Apply it… only then, will you be my brother.”
Hindu Extremists in Kanyakumari District forcefully applied vibhuti [holy ash] on foreheads of Christians, assaulted and abused them in filthy language. pic.twitter.com/NvVpIaQooX
— Nehemiah Christie (@NehemiahHRD) January 16, 2019
Even as the people tried to pacify the goons, the latter got visibly more agitated and warned them that they had to apply the ash on their foreheads, in order to prove their ‘brotherhood’. Then, the goons started physically smearing ash on the people’s foreheads. One man can even be heard threatening the minority community members that if they wipe the ash off, it would lead to ‘disastrous consequences’.
Hoping TN govt directs the police to take immediate action against these anti-societal elements who do not let Christians exercise their fundamental right to religious freedom. pic.twitter.com/JN2t7naKtA
— Nehemiah Christie (@NehemiahHRD) January 16, 2019