Two persons who reportedly barged into a church in outer Delhi's Begumpur area last Sunday have been arrested by the Delhi Police for raising communal slogans, disrupting prayers and threatening priest of dire consequences for carrying out conversions.
According to senior police officials of the district, one of the accused identified as Yogesh Mathur was arrested on Thursday morning and sent to judicial custody, while the other accused Deepak Sharma is being interrogated to ascertain his antecedents.
The incident took place on October 9 around 10am when a prayer service was underway in the Christ Building Church located in the Jain Nagar area of Begumpur, said police.
More than 50 people, who had gathered at the church for Sunday prayer services witnessed the incident when two men standing at the back of the gathering allegedly started abusing the Church Priest, Paul Daniel. The duo levelled allegations against Daniel that at his behest, the practice of conversion was taking place in the church.
Police said the church was opened in 2014 and has been functioning from a rented building. locals in the area alleged that there have been similar attacks in the past as well. Police said the duo apart from using objectionable language against the priest allegedly threatened him of shutting down the church.
Police said probe is underway and it is yet to established.
Creating chaos, the duo fled from the spot. After a meeting was held by Daniel with the locals of the area, they approached the local police and registered an FIR.
Yogesh (40) lives in the Karala village area of Northwest Delhi while Deepak is a native of Uttar Pradesh.
Police said they registered a case under Sections 295 A ( Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.) and 296 ( Disturbing religious assembly) of the IPC at the Begumpur police station.