Church vandalised in Haryana, cross replaced with Hanuman

An under-construction church in Kaimri village near Hisar was vandalised by a group and the cross replaced with an idol of Hanuman, triggering tension in the area in Haryana.

Father Subhash Chand of Williwarsh church lodged a complaint against 14 people, following which a case was registered by police under sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 295 (destroying, damaging a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class of persons), 380 (theft in a building), 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.

The complainant stated that the accused fragmented the cross and installed the statue of Hanuman and a flag depicting Lord Ram and threatened to kill him.

He alleged that they stole a cooler and some items from the worship place that was under construction.

Hisar range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Saurabh Singh said that the situation was under control.

Meanwhile, Christian Front Haryana has condemned the incident and has demanded immediate arrest of the accused, all residents of Kaimri.

Image: A view of in New Delhi's St Sebastian’s Church, where a fire that broke out in December last year, which church members had claimed was an act of vandalism. Photograph: PTI Photo