Bangalore: The Yeddyurappa (BJP) government has made it clear that it did not provoke church attacks in 2008, where as Bajrang Dal convener for Karnataka, Mahendra Kumar in 2008 owned up the responsibility for these attacks. A church in Raja Rajeshwari  Nagar was attacked by stone pelting by Bajrang Dal volunteers. Three churches were attacked and a church at Mariyammana Palya was vandalized by agitating groups against forced conversion. Mahendra was arrested on 20th Sept, 2008 by Mangalore CI Bureau when he was going to Ujire. He was remanded by a Chief Judicial magistrate to judicial custody for 15 days. The state govt., was on back foot as Centre has criticised desecration of churches in Karnataka, CM Yeddyurappa stated today on receiving a clean chit from Somashekhar Commission.
IGP (Western Range) had said that Bajrang Dal Chief, Mahendra Kumar was Linked in 17 places to attacks on places of worshiping 3 three districts. IGP A.M.Prasad explained that a police presence was still there in such areas.