Home Ministry seeks report on church attack

Tells Delhi Police to deploy forces near religious places

The Union Home Ministry on Monday sought a report from the Delhi Police on an attack on a south Delhi church and about steps taken to ensure that no such incident happens again.

Miffed at the continuing attacks on churches, the MHA asked Police Commissioner B S Bassi to send the report as early as possible on the steps being taken to ensure safety of religious places across the city.

The attack on St Alphonsa Church in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj is the fifth such incident in the city since November last year.

The city police was asked to provide an action taken report on the previous four attacks. It will have to inform the Ministry about the arrests made in attacks on religious places in the past six months.

The ministry also directed the police to deploy additional forces near religious places, particularly that of minority communities.

Justice Cyriac Joseph, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), visited the church to take stock of the situation.

When asked whether NHRC is contemplating any action, Justice Joseph said police is doing its job and it is for them to take action.

“Our role comes into play only if they are unable to do the needful,” he said.
Last month, NHRC had issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Delhi seeking a report on attacks targeting churches in Delhi.

Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto on Monday condemned the alleged vandalisation of the church and expressed concern over the recent spate of such attacks.

“Another act of vandalism and targeted attack on our churches in Delhi is nothing but a reflection of the hate campaign and false propaganda by groups whose sole aim is to break the religious harmony and social peace of this great nation.

“The attack within a week after the celebration of Republic Day reflects a lot on the government and its failure to give protection to minorities and their religious structures,” the Archbishop said in a statement.

“As a miniscule minority, we focus on serving the poor and the nation at large. But the growing number of attacks on churches and personnel in different parts of the country is aimed at creating a fear psychosis and tension among different communities,” he said.
DH News Service