On February 12, unidentified individuals set fire to and desecrated a church in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district. According to police reports, people discovered burnt furniture, walls blackened with smoke from the fire, and the word ‘Ram’ painted on the wall inside the Christian prayer hall in Chauki Pura village in the tribal-dominated Sukhtawa block of the district.
The church, about 40 kilometers from the district headquarters, is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and was constructed around five years ago.
Based on the preliminary investigation, Gurukaran Singh, Superintendent of Police, Narmadapuram, provided that the vandals had entered the place of worship, which was built around five years ago and is located 40 kilometers from the district headquarters, by removing a window net and burning it from inside.
According to his inquiry, it does not appear to be part of a bigger plot, but rather an act performed out of personal grievances. The police assured that they have filed a report, obtained numerous leads, and will soon be able to apprehend individuals responsible for the incident.
Speaking to media on the night of the incident, Singh told the reporters that the church had remained shuttered following the previous Sunday’s services. Worshippers were only made aware of the occurrence this Sunday, February 12, when they came to pray.
The police have filed a FIR under Section 295 (injuring or defiling a house of worship), among other provisions, against the unknown individuals.
According to an official, some holy scriptures and other goods, including furniture, were also damaged in the fire, citing a complaint made in conjunction with the incident.
The social media post can be viewed here:
Weeks after #Narayanpur (#Chhattisgarh) #ChurchAttack, a church was vandalised in #Sukhtava block on #MadhyaPradesh‘s #Narmadapuram.
Miscreants attacked the #Church, vandalised it & allegedly tried to set it on fire.
They also wrote #Ram on Walls, says Police.
FIR lodged. pic.twitter.com/lsqKit42fu
— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) February 13, 2023
Singh said that a similar case was also reported on Jan 9 in a nearby locality, and both the cases look similar in prime facie investigation. On Jan 9, a Church ECI Mission Kheda was allegedly attacked and attempts were made to burn religious books.
The post by Hate Detectors can be viewed here:
SP Gurkaran Singh said that a similar case was also reported on Jan 9 in a nearby locality. Both the cases look similar in prime facie investigation.
On Jan 9, a Church ECI Missionkheda was attacked & attempts were made to burn religious books.
MP is going for polls in 8-month. pic.twitter.com/sAdeR5amGZ
— Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) February 13, 2023
On the same day, another incident communal incident was reported from Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh wherein a idol of Hanuman was forcibly installed in a Muslim man’s house. The police used force to disperse both sides, which was met with stone pelting, injuring four police personnel. Three cases under different sections of the IPC pertaining to house-trespassing, attempt to murder, and rioting were filed. Five men have been detained so far. The main accused in the incident is a self-styled Hindu leader, Ravi Awhad, as has been provided by Persecution Relief News.
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