Agartala, Oct. 31 :     Tribals destroyed two churches at Behalabari under Khowai subdivision of Tripura recently in retaliation for the alleged desecration of a Vaishnava temple in the area. The mob also attacked Subhas Debbarma, a local Baptist pastor, accusing him of converting several tribal villagers and inciting them to desecrate the temple on October 23. The pastor had announced earlier this month that the spirit of Jesus would manifest itself in local ?believer? Pradip Debbarma. Expecting a miracle, hundreds of people from Behalabari and its adjoining areas flocked the tribal convert?s house and the ?Jiten Akhra? church, built at the spot where the Vaishnava temple stood. However, Pradip Debbarma panicked and fled the village on October 21, prompting the pastor to ?nominate? one Sampati Debbarma as the new ?intermediary between Jesus and the people?. Things took an ugly turn two days later, with a group of tribal youth accusing the pastor of fraud and beating him up. They also demolished the makeshift ?Jiten Akhra? church built by him. Sources said the irate tribals subsequently forced the pastor and some new converts to retrieve images of Hindu deities that were thrown into a nearby pond when the Vaishnava temple was desecrated. Subhas Debbarma was also asked to provide money for renovation of the mud-walled temple. The incident has sparked tension in Behalabari and its adjoining areas. Police are yet to arrest any one in connection with the destruction of the two churches.