Thousands of Christians Tuesday protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters demanding a quick probe and justice in the fire incident at a Catholic church here. Police said they have formed an SIT to investigate the matter.
Over 5,000 people, including Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, and Methodists, gathered in front of the police headquarters at ITO in central Delhi around 10 a.m.
They raised slogans and asked for an immediate high-level inquiry into Monday's fire in which a Catholic church in east Delhi's Dilshad Garden area was gutted under mysterious circumstances.
The caretakers of the church have alleged the involvement of some unidentified miscreants.
"We want a judicial probe into the matter, and demand that security be given to every church, and the accused be arrested," Father Mathew Koyickal told IANS.
The 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 has given him an appointment Wednesday.
"We will put our demands before the home minister. Hope he fulfills them," he told IANS.
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 (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident.
He assured the people of deployment of police at every Delhi church function.
Due to the protest, which lasted two hours, police stopped traffic outside the police headquarters, leading to traffic snarls.
The protestors also tried to enter the police headquarters to meet Commissioner of Police B.S. Bassi, but were prevented.
Later, a delegation met the police chief, who assured them of a speedy probe.
Alleging police inaction, Anita Benjamin, spokesperson of the Rastriya Isai Mahasangh, told IANS that police wasted a lot of time in gathering evidence.
She said the Christian community was scared and they wanted a quick probe into the incident.
"As the Delhi Police officials reached the spot to assess the situation, they, without even initial investigation, said the church burning seems to be a case of electrical short-circuit," she said.
Prominent community leaders, including former Church of North India (CNI) bishop Karam Masih and civil rights activist John Dayal, participated in the protest.
--Indo-Asia News Service
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