lt-Governor Najeeb Jung has set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the fire at St Sebastian’s Church at Dilshad Garden which, according to the Christian community, was “deliberate”. “An SIT led by Joint Commissioner of police Ravindra Yadav will investigate the case now,” said Special Commissioner of Police, law and Order, Deepak Mishra.
Meanwhile, a massive demonstration was held outside the Delhi Police Headquarters on Tuesday where representatives of the Church, led by Delhi Archbishop, met Delhi Police top brass to fast-track the investigations and bring the guilty to justice.
Pressing their demand for action against the guilty, Archbishop Anil Couto called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to urgently order a judicial enquiry into the incident. The l-G also met the delegation at Raj Niwas in the morning and assured them that an enquiry panel has been instituted to probe the incident.
Delhi Archbishop had sought a detailed probe into the fire that gutted St Sebastian’s Church in Tahirpur area in northeast Delhi on Monday. The followers of the church had alleged foul-play as the debris smelt of petrol and other inflammable chemicals.
Police had registered an FIR against unknown persons for causing the fire with malicious intent on the complaint of the church’s parish priest Father Anthony Francis. Hundreds of members of the Christian community and social activists staged a protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters.
They were demanding enhanced security measures for the minority community. The protesters blocked ITO junction for almost two hours causing massive jams on related routes and disrupting connectivity between East and central Delhi during the morning rush hour.
The protesters even tried to enter the police headquarters to meet Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi. later, a delegation of protesters met the Police Commissioner who assured them of a speedy probe in the case.
Addressing the protesters, Archbishop said that they would wait to see the Central and State Governments’ action before deciding the next course of action. “The burning of the church had created a sense of insecurity, and the Government will have to show by its action that it was concerned and would ensure security of all minorities, specially the small Christian community in their motherland where they have been living peacefully for 2,000 years,” he said, adding, “The Government will have to end targeted violence and impunity so that the constitutional guarantees of freedom of faith for all citizens are seen on the ground.”
Father Stanley Kozhichira, media director of the Delhi archdiocese, said that they want the local SHO to be transferred as he had failed to prevent the incident. As to the fire itself, Kozhichira said it seems to be a deliberate act as they could smell kerosene on the spot.
Police had registered a case in the matter under Section 436 (mischief) of IPC upon a complaint from the church authorities. “We have received a complaint in this regard following which we have registered an FIR and further investigations are underway,” a senior police official had said.
According to the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, the entire interior of the church, including the Altar, the Holy Bible and Cross, were reduced to ashes in the blaze. The church, constructed in 2001, is among the biggest churches in east Delhi. It was active till Sunday night because of religious ceremonies for Catholic children receiving their first Holy Communion.