Close X
Friday, November 8, 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

    Sonia attacks government over communal violence, centre denies charges

    Sonia attacks government over communal violence, centre denies charges
    Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government, saying the communal violence in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra were "created deliberately to divide our society". The government rubbished the charges, and called them "baseless".

    Sonia attacks government over communal violence, centre denies charges

    Modi attacks Pakistan, says it's waging proxy war

    Modi attacks Pakistan, says it's waging proxy war
    In his first attack on Islamabad after taking office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday accused Pakistan of waging a proxy war against India, saying this had killed more soldiers than the numbers killed in all wars since 1947.

    Modi attacks Pakistan, says it's waging proxy war

    100 blank-firing pistols found in Delhi car

    100 blank-firing pistols found in Delhi car
    Around 100 blank-firing pistols meant to be delivered in areas of the national capital region (NCR) were Tuesday recovered from a car here, police said.

    100 blank-firing pistols found in Delhi car

    AAP's Yogendra Yadav detained while protesting against CSAT

    AAP's Yogendra Yadav detained while protesting against CSAT
    AAP leader Yogendra Yadav along with around 100 civil service aspirants were Tuesday detained while marching towards parliament protesting against the aptitude test in the entrance examination, police said.

    AAP's Yogendra Yadav detained while protesting against CSAT

    Pakistani army opens fire on international border in Jammu

    Pakistani army opens fire on international border in Jammu
    Pakistan Rangers Monday resorted to unprovoked firing at Indian positions on the international border in Jammu district, an official said....

    Pakistani army opens fire on international border in Jammu

    Indo-US ties aren't about values: Pakistan daily

    Indo-US ties aren't about values: Pakistan daily
    The US is embracing India because it is disgusted with Pakistan and Indo-US ties are not about "values and friendship", a Pakistani newspaper said Monday....

    Indo-US ties aren't about values: Pakistan daily