Concerted efforts by fanatic Hindu organisations like the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena, which started a malicious campaign on so-called forcible conversions, began in early July 2007. These false allegations, published uncritically by the media, were also followed by blatant threats of violence. Aided by a compliant administration and the active support of the local police and the municipal corporation, members of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike such as D. Basavaraj, Raju Shekar, Deepak Kanthe, Yogesh Bhat, Prashant, Gururaj, Manikanta, Manjunath, Rudresh and Durgesh launched the abusive attacks. They were joined by members of the Sri Rama Sena; Parsuram Nadumara, Raju Houlikatte, Arun, Kallesh, Muthu, and Srinivas among others.

Christians first submitted a memorandum in this regard to the then chief minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, on September 1, 2007. When no action resulted the clergy submitted another memorandum, to the district collector, on October 4, 2007.

Ø December 25, 2007: In Vinobhanagar, Davangere, as Pastor Satish was celebrating Christmas at the home of a Christian, members of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena barged in and forcibly stopped the Christmas celebrations, hurling abuse at the Christian religion. On the same day local Christians had organised "Krista Jayanti 2007" at the DHM Prarthana Mandira, an occasion where religious leaders from all faiths, including Hindus and Muslims, presided as chief guests.

Ø January 2, 2008: In Vinobhanagar, Davangere, members of the Sri Rama Sena barged into the Abhinava Bharati School premises where volunteers of the Full Gospel Assembly church, Davangere, were holding a prayer service. The Sri Rama Sena men detained all the members of the congregation and the pastor for several hours during which they were repeatedly subjected to physical, verbal and mental torture and abuse.

Ø January 18, 2008: In Vidyanagar, Taralabalu Badavane, Davangere, miscreants stoned the house of Pastor Jacob at 10 p.m., damaging doors and windowpanes. Unfortunately, the pastor’s aged mother was injured in the incident. A police compliant was filed in this regard at the Vidyanagar police station.

Ø January, 29, 2008: The pastor of the DHM Prarthana Mandira, who was at the Durgambika School, Nittuvalli, to verify his family’s enrolment in the election list, and Raju Naik who was accompanying him were attacked by a group of 50-60 men from the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena. The police subinspector of KTJ Nagar police station, Anil Kumar, arrived on the scene and intervened and the victims and their attackers were all taken to the police station. The mob however continued to assault the pastor in the presence of the police and corporators PS Jayanna and KG Shivakumar who had also arrived at the police station. No complaint was filed because the police instructed the pastor to keep quiet about the matter since, according to the police, filing a complaint would anger the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena further.

Ø March 9, 2008: In Nittuvalli, a group of 8-10 persons from the Hindu Jagrana Vedike barged into the house of Ms Susheelamma, where about 20-25 Christians had gathered for the Sunday prayer service. They beat up the pastors, confiscated Bibles and warned Susheelamma not to host any other Christian religious activities at her house. The victims filed a police complaint.

Ø July 14, 2008: Members of the sangh parivar went to the St Thomas Church, PJ Extension, Davangere, and abused the priest without any reason or provocation.

Ø July 20, 2008: Members of the sangh parivar attacked the pastor, Lakshman Naik, and two devotees while they were offering prayers at the Lambani Prayer House in Vinayakanagar, Davangere. The victims were severely thrashed by the miscreants who then dragged them to the Vidyanagar police station and handed them over to the police, claiming that they were disturbing the peace. The police then registered a case against the pastor and two other persons, not against the violent offenders. However, a case was registered after the pastor, Lakshman Naik’s wife filed a complaint against the miscreants but no action has been taken against them. That evening the same group also went to Puttugnal village and tried to attack Pastor Narayan. Victims filed a complaint but no action has been taken.

Ø August 10, 2008: Members of the Brethren Assembly church, Davangere, were attending a religious service at the Rotary Club when members of the RSS, Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena barged into the prayer service accompanied by eight policemen; they threatened and beat up the pastors and members of the congregation and forced them to disperse.

Ø August 12, 2008: Members of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena began a daylong attack, torturing priests and worshippers, assaulting Christians and destroying churches and church property. The miscreants gathered outside the Full Gospel Assembly church, Davangere, in the morning and picketed the church amid a non-stop barrage of abusive slogans against Christianity, pastors and members of the congregation. This continued until 4 p.m., with the police looking on. Far from coming to the Christians’ aid, the police was instead party to the illegal abuse, assault and damage to the church and church property. They took the pastor and other members of the congregation into custody and verbally and physically abused them while the mob went on to other churches nearby and stoned them as well.

Ø August 17, 2008: The same miscreants (about 100 persons), along with the police, went to the Jesus Prayer Hall, Shivakumar Badavane, Davangere, where the pastor was conducting a prayer service, and attacked him and other Christians. The pastor and others tried to reason with the miscreants but to no avail. When they sought assistance from the policemen who were present the police inspector told them that since the churches were unauthorised and they were carrying out ‘forced conversions’ the police could not help. Instead of taking action against the culprits, the police registered cases against the pastor and other Christians. The police also warned them not to hold any prayer services at the churches in future and threatened to shut down the churches permanently.

As provocations continued throughout the day and the pastor was even assaulted by the police, the Christians sat in a protest dharna outside the church themselves and, following further attacks, went to the police station. The miscreants followed them there and began a dharna outside. Thereafter the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) arrived at the police station and spoke to both groups. The ACP then warned the pastor about ‘forced conversions’ and the church being unauthorised and asked the pastor to come and show him all relevant documents in this regard. After this the miscreants dispersed and the Christians and the pastor returned to their homes.

On August 17 and August 18, 2008 the police accepted two false complaints from the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena concerning the incidents of August 17 and registered FIRs (first information reports) against the Christians. The police also registered an FIR against members of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike on August 17, 2008.

Ø August 18, 2008: The ACP called a "Shanti Sabha" (peace meeting) at his office, which was attended by Christian pastors as well as members of the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena. The meeting was dominated by the Hindutva organisations’ false accusations that the pastors were offering people Rs 25,000 and coercing them to convert to Christianity. When the pastors argued that this was completely untrue and asked for any evidence that would substantiate this claim their accusers were unable to provide any such proof. Peace was nowhere in sight.

Ø August 23, 2008: The Davangere tehsildar issued a "Preliminary Letter" to local Christian pastors under Section 111 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asking them why no action should be taken against them for the supposed problems they were causing vis-à-vis proselytisation in Davangere city. The preliminary letter is based on the FIR registered by the police in the above-mentioned incidents of August 17, 2008 as well as a complaint from the Hindu Jagrana Vedike. According to the preliminary letter, the complaint from the Hindu Jagrana Vedike not only accuses the pastors of ‘forcible conversions’ but also states that they had been issuing death threats to the Hindu organisations opposing ‘forcible conversions’ and were constantly causing trouble for them.

Ø August 24, 2008: The Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena began a dharna outside the DHM Prarthana Mandira to protest against the pastor, where they shouted abusive slogans against Christianity and the pastor himself. Two swamijis participating in the dharna joined in the vitriolic abuse. The police, who were present at the location, chose to look on without taking any action. The miscreants then urged the police to shut down the church immediately or else the Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena would do it themselves. Consequently, the police forced the Christians to conclude their prayer service right away and close up the church. From here the miscreants went to the Eternal Life church, demanding that it be shut down too. The police were in attendance throughout but they took no action against the miscreants; on the contrary, they supported the anti-Christian campaign. Policemen entered the church and took seven persons into custody, detaining them illegally for several hours. Those arrested were released after they had been made to sign some documents.

Ø August 30, 2008: Christians submitted a detailed memorandum to the governor of Karnataka, Rameshwar Thakur, detailing the various atrocities being committed against their community. (A copy of the memorandum was forwarded to the principal secretary to the government home department.) On the same day the subinspector of police issued a "Police Notice" to several Christian pastors, informing them that since they had not submitted the necessary building documents and permissions to the police despite repeated reminders they were prohibited from carrying out any activities in the church until they did so.

Ø August 31, 2008: The Hindu Jagrana Vedike and Sri Rama Sena resumed their dharnas outside the churches. Once again the police accompanied them and looked on as silent bystanders. Christians filed a complaint with the police, asking for protection of their rights and punishment of the miscreants. Responding to this, a letter from the KTJ Nagar police station claimed that they had been given appropriate protection. No action was taken against the miscreants.

Ø September 4-9, 2008: Christian leaders and human rights activists met the additional director general of police (law and order), AR Infant, and submitted memorandums to him and other police officials, including the director general of police, R. Srikumar. They also made representations and submitted memorandums to the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, the chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, and the state home minister, VS Acharya.

Ø September 5, 2008: Even as victimised Christians were dashing from pillar to post, pleading for the protection of their fundamental rights, the commissioner, Davangere City (municipal) Corporation served notices dated September 5, 2008 to Christians, stating that investigations had revealed that the churches were unauthorised and demanding that all relevant documents and permissions to run these churches be submitted to the corporation within three days, failing which action would be taken.

Ø September 7, 2008: Although the churches concerned had in fact responded adequately to the notices issued by the municipal corporation, engineers of the Davangere City Corporation, without any prior intimation, sealed the churches and prevented both pastors and Christians from entering the church premises.

Ø September 14-15, 2008: In Ganjimath village, Mangalore rural taluka, windowpanes of the Believers’ church were broken by vandals. No arrests were made. In Bantwal taluka, attackers tried to set the door of the Believers’ church on fire even though a police team was guarding the church. No arrests were made. On Jail Road, Mangalore city, mobs pelted stones at the Capuchin church and destroyed sacred idols. No arrests were made.

Ø September 16, 2008: In Kolar town, vandals damaged an ancient statue of Mary at the St Mary’s church. No arrests were made. In Adyar, Mangalore rural taluka, a mob desecrated the Rima Worship Centre and destroyed property. No arrests were made. In Ernody village, miscreants broke into the St George church, desecrated the place and attempted to set it on fire. Two arrests were made. A case was registered under Sections 457, 295 and 448 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Ø September 18, 2008: On BC Road in Bantwal taluka, miscreants pelted stones at the Believers’ church. At the Presentation Girls School in Dharwad, attackers broke the glass casing around the statue of Mother Mary. No arrests were made. A case was registered under Section 295 of the IPC.

Ø September 19, 2008: In Sagar town, Shimoga district, miscreants hung a garland of footwear on the minar at the Idgah Maidan. Three arrests were made. In Padu Kody village, Mangalore district, miscreants pelted stones at the St Xavier’s church and destroyed the idols.