NAVI MUMBAI (Web Desk) – Three unidentified men attacked the St George Catholic Church in New Panvel, in the wee hours of Saturday, by hurling stones inside the church compound and damaging the glass enclosure of the statue of Saint George, Times of India has reported.
The incident, which took place around 1.30 am Saturday, was captured on CCTV cameras in church premises.
“The men came on two or three motorcycles and fled soon after the attack. The glass casing of the statue has been damaged in the incident. The CCTV footage has captured only the pelting of stones and not the details of the attackers. It is also a bit grainy and unclear,” Assistant Commissioner Police SB Suryavanshi said.
The surprise attack which lasted for just over a minute has shocked the Christian community, while their leaders have strongly condemned it by calling the incident a political mischief.
An FIR has been lodged by the parishioners at Khandeshwar police station.
The former vice chairperson of Maharashtra minorities commission and currently the president of Indian Christian Voice, Abraham Mathai, said that he was shocked and saddened by the incident. “It reflects the inability of the government to protect the minorities,” he held.
The Church belongs to the Syro Malabar denomination, and its head is Bishop Thomas Elavanal. The building was consecrated at the spot in 2007.
The Bombay Archdiocese has condemned the attack on the Syro-Malabar church. “I have spoken to the chancellor of the Syro-Malabar diocese in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias participated in silent march organised in south Mumbai on Saturday to condemn the rape of a nun in West Bengal. The march ended with a petition signed by the participants, addressed to the Prime Minister, seeking a speedy probe into the incident and punishment for the culprits. The march started from Radio Club and ended at the Fort Convent School grounds.
“I personally feel sad, embarrassed, ashamed and angry. Far too many incidents of this kind are being reported,” the archbishop said about the West Bengal incident.
