Theft and vandalism at Ranaghat church

A church here was vandalised and burgled in the early hours today and a search has been launched to find the culprits, police said today.

The 127-year-old St Luke's Church at Dayabari Mission Gate here was vandalised and burgled of old religious items and Rs 3000, the church authorities said.

"The Holy Sacrament was torn to pieces by miscreants. The other religious items, like the chalice and bronze candle stands were damaged and a few were taken away along with Rs 3000 in cash. The cash was taken away after breaking open a cupboard," church priest Reverend Kishor Mondal said.
 

"The stolen and damaged articles are very old. It is a blow for us," Mondal said.

The damage was discovered this morning by a church worker who came around 4.30 am and found the lock at the main gate broken. On seeing the religious things strewn about and damaged, he had reported the incident to the Church authorities, who filed a complaint with the police.

The superintendent of police of Nadia and sub-divisional police officer of Ranaghat visited the spot.

The Church is about 150 ft away from the convent where a septuagenarian nun was raped during a robbery in March 2015.

Six persons, including Bangladeshis were arrested in connection with it and the case is still on at Calcutta High Court.