Close X
Friday, November 15, 2024
ADVT 
India

West Delhi Church Vandalized, Incident Captured On CCTV

IANS, 14 Jan, 2015 12:51 PM
    A church here was vandalized before dawn Wednesday, the fourth such incident in the capital in seven weeks, police said.
     
    The incident, which took place around 4.20 a.m., was captured by a CCTV camera installed inside the premises of Our Lady Of Graces Church at Vikaspuri in west Delhi.
     
    "The CCTV footage shows that two people came on a scooter. One entered the church's premises and smashed a glass window. He also threw the statue of Mother Mary on the floor," Father Balraj of the church told IANS.
     
    The police received a call from the church around 7.30 a.m.
     
    Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Monika Bhardwaj told IANS that a case had been filed against two unidentified men for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings.
     
    Bhardwaj said the police have a clear picture of one of the culprits who toppled the statue of Mother Mary and smashed the glass window. "He might be in his late 30s."
     
    Father Savarimuthu Sankar, spokesperson of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, told IANS: "We see a clear pattern in these attacks."
     
    He said the attacks on churches occurring at regular intervals had unnerved Christians in Delhi.
     
    He said the attacks took place most on the city's outskirts and at four different directions within 44 days.
     
    "We cannot say if these incidents are related to the (coming Delhi) elections or the handiwork of some fundamentalists. But it is a matter of concern and police should take proper action," he added.
     
    Three churches were attacked earlier in separate incidents.
     
    Earlier this month, a minor fire was reported from a church in Rohini in west Delhi. The Christmas crib outside was charred.
     
    Last month, some unidentified people threw stones at Our Lady of Fatima Forane Church at Jasola in south Delhi and broke window panes during the evening Mass.
     
    St Sebastian's Church, a Catholic church at Dilshad Garden in east Delhi, was burnt down in December. Police confirmed it was a case of arson.
     
    According to the 2011 Census report, Christians number around 130,000 in Delhi, which is home to about 17 million. The Christian population in India is 24 million -- of the total 1.2 billion.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    When saying 'no' empowered these women

    When saying 'no' empowered these women
    As a child-bride, activist Sampat Pal's mother-in-law sternly instructed her to have dinner only after everyone in the family had eaten. She agreed, but a part of her rebelled against this gender discrimination. And a day came when she could take it no more and ate before everyone else did. That very moment forever changed the course of life.

    When saying 'no' empowered these women

    Efforts on for release of abducted Indians in Iraq

    Efforts on for release of abducted Indians in Iraq
    The Indian government is in touch with agencies and countries that can be of help in securing the release of Indians who were rounded up by suspected Sunni militants in Mosul town of violence-hit Iraq, official sources here said Sunday.

    Efforts on for release of abducted Indians in Iraq

    Indian student in UAE readies for NASA launch of experiments

    Indian student in UAE readies for NASA launch of experiments
    The experiments of an eleven-year-old Indian student in the UAE would be launched into space under a NASA programme, a media report said.

    Indian student in UAE readies for NASA launch of experiments

    Modinomics will face 'socialist' roadblock

    Modinomics will face 'socialist' roadblock
    As Narendra Modi resumes the task of continuing the economic reforms even if it means administering "bitter medicine", the first dose of which was given on Friday, one might have expected the Congress to offer him wholehearted support.

    Modinomics will face 'socialist' roadblock

    Did not seek to impose Hindi, says Modi government

    Did not seek to impose Hindi, says Modi government
    Amid fire from various political parties and chief ministers for imposing the use of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, the union home ministry Friday said it "didn't seek to impose communication in Hindi on states which do not speak the language".

    Did not seek to impose Hindi, says Modi government

    Government set to make Temporary Foreign Worker program more transparent

    Government set to make Temporary Foreign Worker program more transparent
    Employment Minister Jason Kenney and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander are set to reveal reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Friday. This will include making public the names of employers that have been given the green light to hire temporary foreign workers, reports the CBC.

    Government set to make Temporary Foreign Worker program more transparent