Bantwal- Mangalore (Karnataka): A group of thirty Christian believers at Maripalla, Thumbe Dharkas Village in Bantwal Taluk, put up a Christmas-Tree and a Crib as part of their Christmas celebrations. This is a practice in vogue for centuries among Christians, especially among the Catholics in the coastal belt of South Kanara. It has nothing to do with any conversion work, as it is an age-old practice. However, the Hindu radicals, who just couldn’t tolerate anything Christian, were greatly disturbed by this act of open manifestation of their faith and simply went mad and burnt down the crib during the wee hours of Wednesday, 28th December 2011. The radicals poured petrol on the crib and burnt it down.

Mr. Fernandez, a Christian, who noticed the flames, informed others about the incident. The Christians gathered around their destroyed crib, lodged a police complaint at the Bantwal police station, about 20 Kilometres to the east of Mangalore. The police, who visited the place and conducted the necessary inquiry, arrested 2 radical Hindu activists. The arrested persons informed the police that they suspected forceful conversion during the Christmas celebration and hence they set fire to the crib.