The Bombay High Court has directed the Navi Mumbai Police to provide protection and ensure that a Christian family and their relatives in Koproli, Panvel, can pray in their house on Sundays. The family alleged that they received threats from a right-wing group for holding prayer meetings.

The bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Manjusha Deshpande heard a petition filed by advocate Sharland Davidson (60) who said the newly elected Chairman of his housing complex told him that he could no longer hold prayer meetings. The Chairman allegedly told Davidson that certain anti-social elements had made threats to him that if the meetings were allowed to continue, they would take the law into their own hands and the residents of the complex would also face dire consequences.

Davidson told the court that for six years, he and his family, along with relatives, have conducted prayer meetings on Sundays at their residence. He said he is a devout Protestant Christian and the leader of his local congregation and added that around 20 to 25 people used to gather for these prayer meetings.

Advocate Hamza Lakdawala filed Davidson's plea and it was argued by advocate Gayatri Singh, who told the court that on January 21, unidentified individuals arrived at the gate of the residential complex and shouted slogans. They also made calls for violence against the petitioner, co-owners of the flat, and their families. They also hurled abuses and made derogatory remarks.

Davidson alleged that the officers at the Panvel Taluka police station did not take any action after he approached them.

On February 18, a mob led by one Sunil Patil allegedly entered Davidson's residence and assaulted him. Patil is alleged to be a member of a right-wing group. Davidson said the police did not come despite his calls.

After the incident, his family continued receiving threats from unidentified individuals who warned them of dire consequences if they assembled at the flat for the weekly prayer. Davidson stopped holding the prayer meets but sent a legal notice to the police.

He told the court that he had not yet received a reply from the police.

Davidson then approached the Bombay High Court seeking police protection and also sought for an FIR to be registered over the matter.

The High Court granted his family police protection and said it will further hear Davidson's petition on April 12 over the issue of registering an FIR.

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