Church vandalised in Agra, statues knocked over

A church in the Cantonment area in Agra was allegedly vandalised by unknown miscreants in the wee hours of Thursday, triggering outrage among the members of the local Christian community.

According to police, alleged miscreants vandalised St Mary’s Church in Agra Cantonment’s Pratabpura area in what is the latest in a spate of attacks on such institutions across the country.

An FIR has been registered at Rakabganj police station against unknown persons, they said, adding that two statues on the church premises were found damaged along with its main gate.

District and police officials reached the church in the morning to review security arrangements, police said.

Meanwhile, Christian community leaders in Agra are furious over the incident and have demanded firm action against the culprits within 24 hours.

Last month, an elderly nun was allegedly gang-raped at a convent school in West Bengal by miscreants who also looted cash from its lockers. Two Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested in connection with the March 14 incident.

A cathedral premises and a missionary school where people had gathered for a religious convention were vandalised allegedly by Hindu activists in Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh on March 20. Six persons allegedly belonging to a right-wing Hindu group were apprehended over the incident but were later let off on bail. 

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