Christians Protest Against Burning of Delhi Church, Demand Quick Action

A fire has badly damaged Saint Sebastian's church in Delhi.

Hundreds of Christians protest in front of Delhi Police Headquarters Tuesday urging the authorities for a thorough investigation for the burning of St. Sebastian's Church at Dilshad Garden, Delhi.

Delhi Archbishop Anil J. Couto calls on Prime Minister and Union Home Minister urging them for judicial inquiry.

St. Sebastian's Church, a Catholic congregation which usually hosts about 3,000 people on Sunday services was set to fire by unidentified miscreants on Monday, Christians smelled foul play and want quick action.

The fire broke out at around 6:30 a.m. at the church but the pastor of the church Father Anthony Francis came to know through the security guard and informed the police who controlled the fire at around 8:30 p.m. By this time all the properties inside the church were gutted to fire.

"We received a call around 7:25 AM about a blaze in the furniture. Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot which controlled the blaze by 8:30 AM," said a Fire department official.

"The sanctuary, sacristy and the first floor balcony of the church is completely gutted. It seems to be a deliberate act as we could smell kerosene on the spot," said Father Stanley Kozhichira, media director of Delhi archdiocese.

A senior Delhi Police officer told media that they found a can of kerosene on the second floor of the church. "We cannot confirm foul play, but we are definitely looking into that angle,'' the officer added.

The police have registered an FIR against unknown persons for causing the fire with malicious intent.

The church accuses poloce of reacting late to the fire call. "The police and the forensic team only reached at 5.30 pm, though the fire broke out in the morning," said Father Francis, a priest of the church.

The protesters demand for a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, Delhi Archbishop Anil J. Couto has called upon Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tuesday to urgently order a judicial inquiry into the burning of the church.

Christian community in the national capital have been shocked by the burning of the church.