Masked men attack St George Catholic Church in Navi Mumbai, caught on CCTV footage

A church in Navi Mumbai was reportedly attacked by unidentified persons early Saturday morning, leaving a glass enclosure damaged, news reports said. [caption id=“attachment_2164973” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Two men on a bike were caught on CCTV footage hurling stones into the compound of St George Catholic church located in New Panvel, Navi Mumbai. The attack caused cracks in the glass case of a St George statue. Speaking to The Times of India, former vice chairperson of Maharashtra minorities commission and the president of Indian Christian Voice, Abraham Mathai, said: “As soon as I got to know about the church attack, I called up the top officials of Navi Mumbai police department. They have promised to catch the culprits at the earliest. I am shocked and saddened by today’s incident as it reflects the inability of the government to protect the minorities.” The Navi Mumbai police have filed an FIR against unknown persons. The Mumbai attack comes days after an underconstruction church in Haryana was vandalised. On Wednesday, the National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to Haryana government asking them to send a report on the desecration the steps being taken to protest the religious places of minorities in the state. Police had registered a case against 14 people in this connection and the main accused Anil Godara was arrested yesterday from Hisar and taken on remand. The complainant, Father Subhash Chand of Williwarsh church, stated that the group fragmented the cross and installed the statue of Hanuman and a flag depicting Lord Ram and threatened to kill him. With PTI inputs