From: [email protected] To: From: roger dsouza <[email protected]> Burning of St Sebastian Church, Delhi *PRESS STATEMENT* *AFTER UNPRECEDENTED PROTEST BY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL, GOVERNMENT APPOINTS SPECIAL INVESTIGATING TEAM [SIT] OF DELHI CRIME BRANCH TO PROBE BURNING OF ST. SEBASTSIAN?S CHURCH IN EAST DELHI; ASSURE SPECIAL SECURITY MEASURES FOR CHRISTMAS SEASON* *RELGIOUS LEADERS SAY JUDICIAL COMMISSION NECESSARY TO PROBE HATE SPEECHES AND TARGETTED VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN SEVERAL STATES* NEW DELHI, 2nd December 2014. In response to an unprecedented protest by the Christian community of India in the National Capital, New Delhi this morning, the State government has set up a Special Investigating Team under the supervision of the Crime Branch of Delhi police, to investigate Monday?s targeted arson which gutted the St. Sebastian?s Catholic Church in Dilshad Garden in East Delhi. But in their memorandums to the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh, the community leadership pressed its demand for a Judicial Enquiry by at least a sitting or retired Judge of a High court into the Delhi arson against a church, but also the hate speeches and targeted violence against the community, its churches, religious priests, pastors and nuns, and its institutions in several states, particularly Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The memorandums brought several such cases to the notice of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. [A copy of the Memorandum is attached with this Press Statement.] Delhi has not seen an outpouring of anguish and hurt as at the protest demonstration at Police Headquarters at the busy ITO in New Delhi. Archbishops, Bishops, priests representing every denomination and thousands of young and old people from every part of the country dared a massive police blockade to register their protest at the burning of St. Sebastian?s Church which many saw as an act of terrorism against them... Among them were Catholic Nuns, principals and teachers of Educational institutions, hundreds of women and youth. The peaceful rally blocked the arterial road linking New Delhi with East Delhi for two hours till the Special Commissioner for Law and order, Mr. Deepak Mishra on behalf of the police commissioner personally conveyed them the assurance of the SIT and security measures. Archbishop Anil Couto told the rally 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 had 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. The government had to end targeted violence and impunity so that the Constitutional guarantees of freedom of faith for all citizens were seen on the ground. We are hoping the Prime Minister and his government will reaffirm this commitment. Later, Lt. Governor, Mr. Najeeb Jung assured Archbishop Anil Couto of a zero tolerance against targeted and communal violence in the national capital. He said he was directing the Police Commissioner to see that the investigations into the burning of the church were carried out expeditiously and that all preventive measures were taken. The state government, he said, was deeply concerned about such issues. The delegation which met the Police Commissioner, Mr. Bhim Sain Bassi, and which also signed the memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and the Lt Governor, consisted of the following: Archbishop Anil Couto, Archbishop of Delhi, Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Archbishop of the Faridabad Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy, Bishop Jacob Barnabas, Syro-Malankara Catholic church, Dr. John Dayal, former National President, All India catholic Union, Member, National Integration Council, Mr Alwan Masih, General Secretary of the Church of North India, Bishop Simon John of the Believers Church, Rev. Richard Howell, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, Mr. A.C. Michael, immediate past Christian member, Delhi Minorities Commission, Mr. Swamydas Chinnappan, National Secretary, All India Catholic Union, Mr. Jenis Francis, President, Federation of Catholic Associations of Delhi, Rev. Vijayesh Lal, Director Religious Liberties Commission, EFI, Fr. Mathew Koiyckal, Chancellor of the Delhi Archdiocese, Fr Savaraimuthu, Dr. Dominic Emmanuel, SVD. The protest rally was addressed, among others, by Archbishop Anil Couto, former Delhi CNI Bishop Karam Masih, Fr. Stanley Kozhichara, and Dr. John Dayal, Fr. Dominic Emmanuel, and senior representatives and clergy of several denominations. *TEXT OF MEMORANDUM TO PRIME MINISTER, HOME MINISTER OF INDIA AND LET. GOVERNOR OF DELHI* *2nd December 2014* It is with a heavy heart and great concern that we address this memorandum to you to bring to your attention incidents of violence against our Churches and personnel in the country, the latest of which is the arson in the Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi?s St Sebastian?s Church in Dlishad Garden, East Delhi in the early hours of 1st December 2014. The gutting of the St. Sebastian?s Church, as well as the other incidents of targeted violence in other parts of the country, speak of extreme police and administrative impunity and disregard not only to the sentiments and injured religious feelings of our community but also the guarantees of the Constitution of India. Delhi is governed directly by the Union Government?s Ministry of Home Affairs which makes it all the more serious. 1. We call upon you to order an immediate judicial enquiry by at least a High court serving or retired judge to ascertain the facts of this malicious act and the circumstances surrounding the polarisation that is taking place. 2. We also request you to ensure that the Delhi administration repairs the entirely gutted church so that the faithful of the capital region can celebrate the Christmas Midnight Mass prayer service on the night of 24th December 2014. 3. It is a matter of deep regret that the local police officers paid little heed to our repeated requests that the scene of the crime be investigated properly. No senior officer visited the spot till late in the afternoon, and the forensic team came only by the evening. In addition to the judicial enquiry, an internal departmental enquiry also must be ordered to identify officers and men guilty of dereliction of duty. 4. We are confident that you will ensure that the guilty are traced by the police at the earliest and charges brought against them for arson, hurting the religious sentiments of the Christian community and for attempts to create religious discord. The details of the arson in the St. Sebastian?s Church, Dilshad Garden, East Delhi, and incidents in other parts of the country are as follows; St. Sebastian?s Church in Dilshad Garden was constructed in 2001 and is among the biggest churches in the area. The fire was reported early this morning. The entire interior, including the Altar, the Holy Bible and Cross were reduced to ashes. On the complaint of Church priest Fr. Anthony Francis, the police have registered an FIR against unknown outsiders for causing the fire with malicious intent. Senior officers of Delhi police, the Special Branch and the Forensic Crime unit came to the spot after many hours, and once the agitated members of the Catholic community blocked the roads in the area. Samples were retrieved from the inside of the church, which still smelt of fuel oil. Till late in the evening, police could not say they had made any progress in their investigations. Addressing the media, Archbishop Couto said apart from the judicial enquiry, the government must repair the building before Christmas, ensure that policemen guilty of dereliction of duty are punished, and special police investigation teams are set up to trace the guilty. *II. In Madhya Pradesh* On Sunday, 30th November 2014, two house churches in Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh were attacked. *III. Chhattisgarh:* Chhattisgarh has particularly witnessed regular and repeated attacks on the fundamental rights of the minority Christian community. Most recently, according to the media and local sources, local politico organisations such as the VHP are pressurising local Catholic missionaries to put up pictures of Goddess Saraswati in their educational institutions. The Catholic schools are also under pressure to rename the principals in their schools, as ?Pracharya?, or ?Up-pracharya?, instead of the term ?Father?, which is usually used. Some of the other incidents briefly outlined below are representative the hostility and discrimination being faced by Christians across India. *1. **Social Boycott* ? The entry of and propaganda by non-Hindu missionaries, especially Christians, is banned in more than 50 villages of Chhattisgarh?s Bastar region by the local gram panchayats since late May. ? In Deggarh district, Odisha several tribal Christian families were excommunicated on 28 Aprilallegedly at the behest of religious extremists. The three Christian families were excommunicated and deprived from enjoying common facilities of the village road, water and forest land because of their faith in Christ. The well commonly used by the Christians was polluted by adding filth to it. And the Christians have been forbidden to mix or talk to anybody, to take part in any social functions or walk on the main road. The extremists also threatened to snatch away the Govt. land allotted to the Christians, to cancelled their BPL Cards and demolished their houses if they do not renounce Christ. *2. **Physical Assaults* On 16 June, a mob of religious extremists brutally beat up Christians and 10 believers including two women who were later rushed to the hospital in Sirisguda, Bastar town, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. About 100 Christians who were denied rations for two months for their faith in Christ were beaten up by a mob. At about 1 pm, Christians from 52 families came together before the district Food Inspector office when the mob rushed in and started to beat the Christians indiscriminately. The mob beat up the Christians with sticks, kicked and punched them and hurled stones at those who were trying to escape from the scene. Two women were pulled to the ground while the perpetrators stood on them and hit their genital organs. No FIR was registered against members of the mob. ? Religious-political extremists locked up a church on June 5 after they beat up a Christian family in Balwanazir, Kaliyanganj, Bihar. The mob comprising of beat up Sadanandan Singh and his family for their faith in Christ on May and June and finally locked up the church of the Indian Evangelical Team. Singh and his family were dragged on the road and the entire family including two minor girls were beaten up mercilessly. The extremists have locked up the church and told Singh that he is not allowed to pray in the future in the village. *3. **Desecration of and Restrictions on House Churches or Building Churches.* ? Local religious political groups threatened to harm Pastor Bhikanlal Dhurvey several times for conducting prayer meetings in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. However, the pastor continued to conduct worship services and later started to build a prayer hall in his land. Subsequently, the extremists filed a police complaint against the pastor of illegal construction. The construction has since been stopped and prayers are now being conducted in the homes of local Christians ? On 18th May in Kundupur, Karnataka the properties of two churches were allegedly damaged by unidentified miscreants. An ornamental pot at the entrance of the Holy Rosary church was broken and a signpost leading to St. Antony Church in Koteshwar also was uprooted. ? On 29 April, three chapels in Irinjalakuda diocese were damaged after allegedly police cleared the way for the "Way of the Cross' procession of the Saint Anthony's Catholic Church. Earlier on 11 April, extremists had blocked the procession of St Antony's Catholic Church. The police intervened and cleared the passage for the procession as this was the traditional practise for several years and the local temple administration has given permission for the same. India is a land where different religious faiths have long since flourished and our founding father made special efforts to ensure that the rights of all are safeguarded irrespective of our religious beliefs, gender or caste. India is committed to secularism and any attempt to weaken the socio-religious fabric of the nation must be dealt with swiftly and effective. We hope and pray that such discrimination and targeted violence will be ended by strong political will and administrative action. You and your government are poised in a unique moment in the history of the nation to ensure that all people, irrespective of faith, feel secure. Small religious communities such as the Christians need to be reassured they are protected and are secure and safe in their motherland. We continue to pray for you and the government. We pray for India and for the welfare of all its people. For further information, please contact: Fr. Savarimuthu, 09968006616, [email protected], Dr. John Dayal, 09811021072, [email protected] and Fr. Stanley 09910504011, [email protected] ============== The BCS condemns the arson at St. Sebastian's Church, East Dellhi From: [email protected] To: [email protected] The Bombay Catholic Sabha condemns the arson at St Sebastian's Church, East Delhi. We suspect foul play. A judicial inquiry should be ordered and the guilty punished. The Government should take steps to restore the Church to its original state as soon as possible. Gordon D'Souza President - The BCS St Sebastian's Church fire: Delhi Archbishop urges PM Modi to order probeMedia ReleaseNew Delhi, Dec 2: Delhi Archbishop Dr Anil Couto, has in a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Rajnath Singh, called on them to urgently order a judicial enquiry into the burning of the St Sebastian’s Church in Dilshad Garden in the national capital, New Delhi on Monday November 1. The entire interior, including the Altar, the Bible and the Cross were reduced to ashes.On the complaint of Church priest Fr Anthony Francis, the police have registered an FIR against unknown outsiders for causing the fire with malicious intent. Senior officers of Delhi police, the special branch and the forensic crime unit came to the spot after many hours, and once the agitated members of the Catholic community blocked the roads in the area. Samples were retrieved from the inside of the church, which was still smelling of fuel oil.Till late in the evening, police could not say they had made any progress in their investigations.Addressing the media, Archbishop Couto said apart from the judicial enquiry, the government must repair the building before Christmas, ensure that policemen guilty of dereliction of duty are punished, and special police investigation teams are set up to trace the guilty.Te Christian community cutting across denominations, and civil society have decided to protest at the offices of the Police Commissioner of Delhi on Tuesday morning to focus attention on the attempts to polarise the people in Delhi state which goes to the polls soon, and the continued persecution of Christians in Madhya Pradesh, Chhatishgarh and other tribal and rural areas.On Sunday November 30, two house churches in Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh were attacked. Earlier in November, catholic priests in the Bastar region in Chhatisgarh were told all their schools were to install statues of Goddess Saraswati and they would not be allowed to be called “Father”, the usual honorific, by the students, but would be called “Acharya”. In other districts of Chhartisgarh, village panchayats under political influence have passed regulations banning non-Hindu religious persons from organising prayers or opening places of worship in their territory.Archbishop Couto said the arson in St Sebastian’s church was condemnable not just because it was an act of sacrilege and hate against the community and its faith, but that it could happen in the national Capital which is just recovering from a series of communal incidents. Also distressing is the sense of police impunity. Long hours were lost, and possible evidence destroyed, before the police finally came.St Sebastian’s church was constructed in 2001 and is among the biggest churches in East Delhi. The church was active till Sunday night because of religious ceremonies for catholic children receiving their first Holy Communion.The night watchman had handed over charge to the day watchman at 5 am. parish priest Fr Francis was informed by the day watchman of the fire. The fire was still raging when Fr Francis informed the fire brigade and the police.The community soon collected at the police station to impress on the officers to call in forensic experts. When the police failed to come, roads were blocked for some time. Those who visited the church included archbishops Anil Couto, Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas , several Members of Parliament, Arvind Kejriwal and former MLAs of the area. ================== Church fire sparks street agitation...TOI 3rd Dec pg 04 New Delhi:TIMES NEWS NETWORKProtesters Allege Police Took Too Long To Act, LG Promises An SIT ProbeA large number of people turned up outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday morning demanding a high-level probe into the mysterious earlymorning fire that gutted St Sebastian's church at Dilshad Garden on Monday.The fire completely destroyed the interiors of the 13-year-old Catholic church, one of the biggest in east Delhi, attended by the Syro Malabar Christian community . The demonstrators alleged that police took a long time responding to the fire, and then sent officers and forensic teams late to the spot. Alleging foul play , they demanded a probe into the cause of the fire by a specialized team. The demand was met by lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, who announced that a special investigative team led by a joint commissioner of police would probe the incident, after a meeting with community representatives later in the day. The protest began around 10am and continued till 12.30 in the afternoon. Around 2,500 demonstrators, comprising students, social justice groups and members of the clergy, blocked both sides of the road for nearly two hours, bringing traffic to a complete halt. “We want the local SHO to be transferred as he had failed to prevent the incident.As for the fire itself, it seems to be a deliberate act as there was a strong smell of kerosene at the spot,“ said Father Stanley Kozhichira, media director of the Delhi archdiocese. A delegation later met the police commissioner, before setting off to meet the LG. “In our meetings with the police commissioner and lieutenant governor, we expressed a general sense of fear in the community and the lackadaisical attitude of police. We also expressed our anxiety about renovation of the church not being completed in time (for Christmas),“ said Father Savarimuthu. He said that the commissioner and the Delhi LG gave assurances on all these counts. The delegation has demanded swift probe into the incident and wants the church renovated before Christmas. A few politicians also joined the protest outside the police headquarters. Among them were Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien and city Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely . O'Brien had earlier tweeted, “Horrified. Angry . Saddened with news of Delhi church burnt destroyed...Other incidents in MPChattisgarhKarnataka too of Christians being terrorized“. Meanwhile, police said they were waiting for forensic reports on the fire. “We had called in the forensic and crime team to investigate the scene of fire on Monday and are waiting for their inputs.A case against unknown persons has been registered on the basis of a statement from the church and a probe is on to verify if there was any mischief,“ said R A Sanjeev, DCP, north east district. Protests choke central Delhi New DelhiTIMES NEWS NETWORKTraffic was thrown out of gear in central Delhi after thousands of protesters blocked Vikas Marg on Tuesdaymorning, demanding a probe into the fire that broke out in St Sebastian’s church.The protesters blocked both the carriageways of Vikas Marg near the police headquarters which affected traffic on Ring Road for about three hours, cops said. Ripple effect of the jam was felt on other roads in the area. Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Mathura Road, Tilak Marg and the India Gate area remained affected till 12.30pm. Thereafter, traffic police barricaded Ring Road at the ITO flyover crossing and put diversions in place. A senior traffic officer said commercial vehicles were diverted from Ring Road towards Bhairon Marg and Ambedkar Sta dium while smaller vehicles from east Delhi were allowed to use Vikas Marg towards central Delhi. Vehicles headed from Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg towards east Delhi were asked to take the Bhairon Marg and then turn left to Ring Road. Traffic cops said Metro construction work at ITO added to the chaos. Jams were also reported from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Sikandra Road and the ITO bridge. Clergy for guards, CCTVs at churchesSuhas MunshiNew Delhi:A day after the fire at St Sebastian's Church in Dilshad Garden and a break-in attempt at a convent in Delhi on Monday night, community members conveyed a sense of insecurity with the clergy suggesting equipping churches with CCTVs and private guards. In another part of Delhi, a local priest has been demanding street-lighting outside his church for several years now, and after Monday's fire is apprehensive about security of his parishioners.A Catholic sister said unidentified people tried to break into the convent in Rohini's Sector 29 on Mondaynight.“There are two pet dogs at the convent and both started barking around 12.30am. When a sister got up to check, she heard people talking and immediately called the police,“ said the sister. She added that CCTV footage showed youths with iron rods and torches walking about the compound. Police have lodged a case under IPC sections 457 (lurking house-trespass or house break-in by night in order to commit offence) and 511 (attempt to commit offence). While instances of arson against churches aren't common, one church in particular, Prabhu Prakash in Trilokpuri, has been witness to vandalism. In 2008, it was attacked by a crowd which damaged the building and threatened the lives of its parishioners. Even after the fire at St Sebastian's, which is close to Prabhu Prakash church, and violent riots not long ago police presence is yet to increase. ============ DELHI POLICE FORMS SIT - Oppn Sees Conspiracy in Church Blaze..ET 3rd Dec pg 04 New Delhi:Our Political BureauOpposition members in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday raised the issue of burning down of a church in East Delhi and alleged that it was part of an `attempt to communalise the atmosphere'. Raising the issue during zero hour, CPM's P Karunakaran condemned the incident and narrated how the church's entire interior was gut-ted in the incident. He also alleged that the police reached the spot very late.Congress and other opposition parties too condemned the incident.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naudu condemned the incident too and said he would urge the Union Home Minister to order a probe. Thousands of Christians protested in front of the Delhi Police headquarters demanding a quick probe into the fire that gutted St Sebastian's Catholic Church in Dilshad Garden in mysterious circumstances. Police said a special investigation team of the force will investigate the matter. The over 5,000 protesters included Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, and Methodists. The protesters gathered around 10 am outside the ITO headquarters of Delhi Police and raised slogans demanding an immediate high-level inquiry into Monday's fire.The caretakers of the church have alleged the involvement of some un identified miscreants. Protestors, including women and children, raised slogans of “We want justice” and held up placards with messages like “Pray and let others pray”. Delhi diocese Archbishop Anil Couto, who had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a judicial inquiry into the fire incident, said Home Minister Rajnath Singh had given him an appointment on Wednesday. “The protestors, who also demanded security in Delhi churches, were reportedly assured by the police that their demands would be met. Special Commissioner of Police Deepak Mishra, accompanied by other senior officials, assured them that a proper inquiry will be conducted into the case. Mishra informed the protestors that a special investigation team has been formed to probe the incident. He assured the people of deployment of police at every Delhi church function. ========= Delhi church fire raises fears of communal aggressionAs news of the fire spread, about 500 people gathered at St Sebastian to demand a judicial inquiry.Posted on December 2, 2014, 8:38 AM Fire damage inside Saint Sebastian Catholic Church in New DelhiNew Delhi: A fire that destroyed the interior of a Catholic church in New Delhi on Monday morning has raised concern that the country’s Christian miniority is being intentionally targeted. A guard at Saint Sebastian Catholic Church – empty at the time of the fire – notified the parish priest at about 6am, and the fire brigade was called, lay leader John Dayal told an afternoon press briefing at the church attended by Archbishop Anil Cuto of Delhi. "The police took their own time to come. They said a forensic team would be arriving soon, but they have not yet reached," Dayal said. "The police are not serious about this crime, which is communal in nature," he added. Police officer S Chauhan, under whose area the church falls, said police are investigating all angles, and until their probe is over they cannot speak about details of the investigation. “The first step is to collect evidence and determine the cause of the fire," he said, adding that the investigation has only just started. An earlier statement by police suggested that the fire had been the result of faulty electrical wiring. Archbishop Cuto said the Church had "full faith" in the investigation and it would not be right to pointing accusing fingers at anyone until the facts of the investigation were known. But Father Thomas Paul, a New Delhi-based priest, questioned why the guard did not notice the fire sooner. “We have so many unanswered questions.” Parishioners had questions as well, along with demands. As news of the fire spread, about 500 people gathered at St Sebastian to demand a judicial inquiry into the fire as an act of intentional aggression against the Christian community.Source: ucanews.com===========Fire guts Delhi church, foul play suspected...TOI 2nd Dec pg 09Suhas MunshiNew Delhi:Archbishop Asks PM To Institute Judicial InquiryA mysterious, early morning fire destroyed one of East Delhi's big churches, St Sebastian's Church in Dilshad Garden, prompting allegations of foul play by the Christian community .Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons under section 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy house) of IPC. The blaze started in the early hours of Monday and reduced to ashes the church's interior, including the altar, and all images and statues. Several churchgoers stood outside the charred 13-year-old shrine the entire afternoon, protesting against what they believed was a planned assault. Delhi archbishop Anil Couto has in a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.Couto also alleged that police took a long time to react and were late in sending officers and forensic units to collect evidence. Couto, in his memorandum, demanded that the government must repair the building before Christmas, ensure that policemen guilty of dereliction of duty are punished and that special police investigation teams are set up to trace the guilty. The fire department said they received a call at 7.26am. Four fire tenders dispatched, which took less than five minutes to reach the spot, officials said. “On arrival, we saw the whole place burning furiously . It took us 40 minutes to control the blaze,“ said a senior Delhi Fire Services official. Police officials aren't ruling out a planned assault.“We have initiated a probe and all angles are being pursued. The statements of various people have been recorded and evidence is being examined. The crime and forensic teams have inspected the site and lifted samples including fingerprints and others,“ an officer said. Father Stanley , a priest of the church, said there was an overwhelming stench of kerosene in the entire church when he reached it. “Traces could be seen floating on water with which fire tenders had flushed our church. Undoubtedly this was planned vandalism,“ Father Stanley said. Visitors to the church on Sunday didn't recall observing anything strange. They , however, recall one instance of vandalism against the same church. “In 2010, this church was stoned by some people. We still don't know why ,“ said a churchgoer. ===========Delhi church gutted, foul play suspected..TOI 2nd Dec pg 01 New DelhiTNNSt Sebastian’s Church, one of East Delhi’s biggest churches, was gutted in a mysterious early morning fire on Monday.The blaze reduced to ashes the church’s interior, including the altar, the Holy Bible, the Cross and all images and statues. The Christian community has alleged foul play and demanded a judicial probe. According to Father Stanley of the church, there was a stench of kerosene when he reached the shrine. “Traces of it could be seen floating on water with which fire tenders had flushed our church. This was planned vandalism,” he said. --------- Robin ViegasHon Secretary - Bombay Catholic Sabha, Kalina Unit,11 Framps Villa, CST Road, Kalina,Mumbai 400 098.
