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

    Arvind Kejriwal in damage control mode but can he save AAP?

    Arvind Kejriwal in damage control mode but can he save AAP?
    A day after a deep divide between AAP's top leaders came to the fore, its chief Arvind Kejriwal Saturday admitted it needed "restructuring" and said the "differences" had been resolved.

    Arvind Kejriwal in damage control mode but can he save AAP?

    Uneasy calm at Golden Temple post-clash on Operation Bluestar anniversary

    Uneasy calm at Golden Temple post-clash on Operation Bluestar anniversary
    An uneasy calm prevailed at the Golden Temple complex here on the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar Friday following a clash between radical Sikh activists and SGPC task force volunteers in which 10 people were injured.

    Uneasy calm at Golden Temple post-clash on Operation Bluestar anniversary

    Defamation charges framed against Kejriwal

    Defamation charges framed against Kejriwal
    A court Friday framed charges against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

    Defamation charges framed against Kejriwal

    Rift wide open in AAP, but leaders play it down

    Rift wide open in AAP, but leaders play it down
    The 19-month-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was enveloped in its worst crisis Friday as two of its top leaders traded charges with senior leader Yogendra Yadav, who has been accused by more than one disgruntled colleague of taking the party down the drain though others tried to play down the rift.

    Rift wide open in AAP, but leaders play it down

    Tension prevails as 10 injured in Golden Temple complex clash

    Tension prevails as 10 injured in Golden Temple complex clash
    Tension prevailed at the Golden Temple complex here Friday as 10 people, including a child, were injured at the Sikh shrine complex in a clash between task force volunteers of the SGPC and radical Sikh activists on the 30th anniversary of the army's Operation Bluestar.

    Tension prevails as 10 injured in Golden Temple complex clash

    Congress seeks abetment to suicide case against Punjab minister Sikander Singh Maluka

    Congress seeks abetment to suicide case against Punjab minister Sikander Singh Maluka
    With a senior education department officer in Punjab allegedly committing suicide, the opposition Congress Thursday demanded that a case of abetment to suicide be registered against the state education minister.

    Congress seeks abetment to suicide case against Punjab minister Sikander Singh Maluka