SIT to probe City church fire; traffic hit in protest

The Delhi Police have constituted a Special Investigating Team led by Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav to probe Monday’s fire at St Sebastian’s Church in north-east Delhi’s Dilshad Garden.

Special security measures during Christmas season have also been assured. Religious leaders, however, said a judicial enquiry was necessary to probe hate speeches and targeted violence against Christians in several states.
Traffic was also hit for over two hours in central Delhi on Tuesday morning when a demonstration was held over the issue outside Delhi Police headquarters in ITO.

“Archbishops, bishops, priests representing every denomination and thousands of young and old people from every part of the country are here to register their protest as we see the burning of St Sebastian’s Church as an act of terrorism,” Delhi Catholic Archdiocese spokesperson Savarimuthu Sankar told Deccan Herald.

They blocked roads linking New Delhi with East Delhi till Special Commissioner of Delhi Police (Law and Order) Deepak Mishra assured the setting up of an SIT and security measures on behalf of Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi.

Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto said they would wait to see the central and state governments’ action before deciding the next course of action. He added that 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.

“India is a land where different religious faiths have long since flourished and our founding fathers made special efforts to ensure that the rights of all are safeguarded irrespective of our religious beliefs, gender or caste. We are hoping the prime minister and his government will reaffirm this commitment,” he said.

Later in the day, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung also assured Couto of zero tolerance against communal violence in the national capital.