In view of several incidents of attacks on members of the Christian community and their institutions in the recent past, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories as well as to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India calling for reports within two weeks on the measures already taken in this behalf and the plan of action drawn up by them to meet the situation. Urging them to accord top priority to this matter, the Commission pointed out that it is necessary to preserve "the secular credentials of the Nation and to fulfil the promise of fraternity and common brotherhood" envisaged in our Constitution. The Commission’s decision is based on the need to take a holistic view as well as to inspire requisite confidence amongst the people of Christian community who appear to be feeling insecure at this time. The Commission has already taken suo-motu cognizance of several incidents wherein some persons professing the Christian faith have been assaulted and even killed in different parts of the country. On 19th June, in response to a press report "Cleric’s cook dies in police custody", the Commission issued notice to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report within one week. The Commission also directed the Director General of Police, UP to have a video recording of the post-mortem examination done in this case. An eyewitness to the murder of the Catholic Cleric in Mathura, Vijay Kumar Ekka, reportedly died in police custody under mysterious circumstances. Pursuant to the Commission’s orders, a team from its Investigation Wing has already reached Mathura for an on-the-spot inquiry regarding the killings of Brother George Kuzhikandam and his cook, Vijay Kumar Ekka. The Commission also sought reports from the concerned State Governments with regard to a number of specific incidents in Uttar Pradesh; Indore, Madhya Pradesh; Rewari, Haryana; Nashik, Maharashtra; and the killing of a Christian Priest Ashish Prabhash at Batala, Punjab and the bomb blasts that rocked Churches in the States of Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. After issuing appropriate directions in the above cases, the Commission has also received petitions from several persons and organisations complaining that these incidents disclose a pattern of violence against Christians and their institutions, particularly in some States, which has created reasonable apprehension in the minds of the Christians throughout the country of they being victimised and their human rights being endangered. The Commission took note of similar apprehensions that have been voiced in the form of editorials, articles and news items in the media and the general feeling that it should take up this matter to ensure the protection of human rights of the Christian community and their institutions and to prevent any future violations. The Commission noted that there can be no doubt that an apprehension of the above kind is of serious concern and shared by many in the country and must be addressed by all the authorities. For this reason, the Commission proposes to make an in-depth scrutiny of the situation, not merely by inquiring into the violation of human rights of a section of people involved in the specific incidents of which suo-motu cognizance has already been taken but also to explore the avenues necessary for the prevention of any such violations in future and to ensure that there is no neglect on the part of the public authorities concerned in the performance of their duties in this behalf.