For the residents of Newlamka, life will never be the same again after 20th August, 2006. The painful memories and the trauma they had been through that night would remain with them for a long, long time.

For it was on that fateful night at around 7:30 pm that security forces belonging to the 3rd Rajputana Rifles attacked EBC Church, Vengnuam, New Lamka and fired indiscriminately at innocent churchgoers attending the sacramental service.

The firing resulted in the death of one Mr Thawngkhanlian s/o Rev. S. Ginjam and injuring many others. The deceased is the chairman of Baptist Youth Fellowship (the youth wing of the church), EBCC, Vengnuam and also the editor of a local weekly paper, Voice of Newlamka.

May it be known to the world that EBCC Vengnuam has never and will never harbour any insurgents/militants inside its premises, as alleged by the army. The army should stop concocting "cock and bull" stories and immediately apologise to the people for their misdeeds.

The attack on a religious place by state actors is a blatant violation of the secular provisions of the Constitution of India which they have sworn to uphold and protect at all costs.

This incident is an act of terrorism on the part of the security forces which has no parallel in the history of India. Nowhere has a religious place been attacked by the security forces expect maybe in the infamous "Operation Bluestar" to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple.

Operation Bluestar can be justified as militants are present inside the premises. Operation Vengnuam can never be justified as no insurgents/militants are present inside its premises. The perpetrators of this crime should not be made to go scot-free and the guilty should be given appropriate punishment.

Or is secularism dead?

It may be mentioned here that this is not the first instance that EBC Church Vengnuam was attacked by security forces. On 1st June 2004, combined forces of IRB and police commandos of Bishnupur had attacked the church and beaten up choir members of the church for no apparent reason.

The latest incident is a grim reminder of this incident and the fact that the security forces could not be trusted anymore.

The attack on the church has angered the public and condemnation has poured in from all quarters. In fact there is a rhyme doing the rounds in New Lamka area which goes like this:

Captain Shekhar go away
(Tune: Rain, rain go away)
Captain Shekhar, Captain Shekhar go away
Never come again another day
Faithful Christians want to pray
Shekhar, Shekhar go away
(PS. Captain Shekhar is alleged to be the man behind this incident)

Hello, is anybody listening????