Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 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

    We want Chandigarh back: Badal

    We want Chandigarh back: Badal
    Seeking justice for Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday demanded that the central government should return Chandigarh, the joint capital with Haryana, to Punjab....

    We want Chandigarh back: Badal

    Stand-off continues on arrest of Haryana sect leader

    Stand-off continues on arrest of Haryana sect leader
    The stand-off between followers of a controversial, self-styled godman and security forces continued near this Haryana town with police failing to take him into custody till Sunday evening....

    Stand-off continues on arrest of Haryana sect leader

    Al Qaeda banking on SIMI to recruit educated Indian youth

    Al Qaeda banking on SIMI to recruit educated Indian youth
    Al Qaeda, which has announced plans to target India, is keen on recruiting youth trained in computers or aeronautics for its terror designs and is taking the help...

    Al Qaeda banking on SIMI to recruit educated Indian youth

    Is Kejriwal drifting away from old friends?

    Is Kejriwal drifting away from old friends?
    Is AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal slowly drifting away from his old associates and gravitating towards a new set of aides for advise and consultation in order to project ...

    Is Kejriwal drifting away from old friends?

    From Butterfly To Japanese - Gardens Abound In Chandigarh

    From Butterfly To Japanese - Gardens Abound In Chandigarh
    Chandigarh, one of India's most planned cities with wide open spaces and gardens, has a Japanese connection now. The latest entry to Chandigarh's long list of themed gardens and parks is the Japanese Garden.

    From Butterfly To Japanese - Gardens Abound In Chandigarh

    Arvind Kejriwal woos youth, promises 800,000 jobs, WiFi

    Arvind Kejriwal woos youth, promises 800,000 jobs, WiFi
    AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal Saturday launched the party's Delhi Dialogue campaign and wooed the national capital's youth by promising 800,000 jobs, vocational training, stadia, new colleges and Wi-Fi across the city.

    Arvind Kejriwal woos youth, promises 800,000 jobs, WiFi