Alleged Assaulter Pallekonda “A Respected Member of FIACONA”, Says Press Release

10 days after Jayachand Pallekonda, former president and current regional vice-president of Federation of Indian American Christian Organization of North America (FIACONA), assaulted a 70 year old in an unprovoked attack resulting in filing of battery charges, the US based Indian Christian organization went into damage control mode.

In a Press Statement released on 16th May here, FIACONA condemned the news reports of the choking episode as “overblown” and called the alleged assaulter Jayachand Pallekonda , “a respected member of FIACONA”.

While downplaying the incident, it seeked to portray the peaceful 'Awareness Campaign To Save Temples' demonstrators as “Hindutva Activists”, a stock response used by Christian organizations to denigrate any Hindu reaction towards Christian aggressive proselytization in India.

FIACONA clarified that it was not a member of the event which was organized by the Telugu Association of North America and American Telugu Association. However it was not clear whether Jayachand Pallekonda was involved in the brawl in his capacity as organizing member of the Telugu Associations or as a member of the FIACONA. The demonstrations were in protest of the anti Hindu and anti temple stance of the Christian Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

The actions of its senior member Pallekonda and contradiction of the press release statement towards the end could not be more jarring. It mentioned “FIACONA respects the right of any group to protest peacefully”!!

The whole episode has turned into a major embarrassment for FIACONA which claims to fight for the rights of Christian minority in India. But the Rosemont incident showed that its former President did not seem to reciprocrate nor respect the rights for the Hindu minority in the US.

His violent actions ended with a 70 year old in ER and a battery case filed against him.

For police comment on demonstration and arrest, go: here
For India tribune article investigating the episode, go: here
Further discussions, go: here

Prominent Telugu American Christian Leader charged with violent assault on 70-year-old During "Save Temples Campaign"

Assault Victim Admitted to Emergency Ward


May 6, 2007. Chicago. Police arrested and charged a prominent Telugu American community leader after he choked a 70 year old, in an unprovoked attack. The shocking incident occurred when a group of 400 campaigners gathered outside the Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago protesting against Andhra Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's anti temple policies in his home state, during a reception on his honor by the Telugu Association of North America (TANA).

The attacker, identified as Dr Jayachand Pallekonda is a director of the Telugu Association of Greater Chicago (TAGC). He was the also past President of The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA). He has held several important positions in the Telugu and Christian community associations in the United States.

According to eyewitness reports, Dr Pallekonda approached the 70 year old victim from the back and all of a sudden grabbed his neck and started choking him. As the victim struggled for breath, alert police on the standby immediately rushed to the spot and pulled Pallekonda’s hands off, handcuffed and escorted him away from the protest scene.

The severity of the attack caused the 70 year old victim to be admitted to emergency ward due to the swollen glands. He is presently recovering from the attack.

A case on assault has been filed on the Former FIACONA president and hearing is set for May 23, 2007 in Rosemont, Illinois.

For detailed information:
http://savetemples.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=41

http://savetemples.org/images/pdfs/pressreleasePostEvent.pdf


Photo: Assault Victim Admitted to Emergency Ward

courtesy: savetemples.org

Coming up: Assault by Former FIACONA President Pallekonda , why?