NHRC notice to MHA, Delhi Government, Police on church attack

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) The NHRC Tuesday issued notice to the home ministry, Delhi government and Delhi Police for a detailed report, including the status of investigation, into the ransacking-cum-theft incident in a Delhi church.

The NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) issued notice to the secretary of the home ministry, chief secretary of Delhi government and the Delhi Police commissioner to submit their reports into the allegations of desecration of the St. Alphonsa's church in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj in the early hours of Monday.

"Home ministry, Delhi government and the Delhi Police have been given ten days' time to respond," said a NHRC release.

The NHRC intervened in the matter after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports regarding the incident of breaking open the doors of the St. Alphonsa's church and defiling of the place of worship and the objects held sacred, the release said.

The church's administration Monday claimed it did not seem to be just an incident of theft as this was the fifth case within nine weeks when a church was targeted. A few sacred items, including a ciborium (receptacle) and a monstrance kept inside a tabernacle, a cabinet made of wood and glass, were taken away.