ASIA/INDIA – The men who devastated a church in Delhi are Sikhs: three people arrested

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - Three men were arrested by the Delhi police for having committed acts of vandalism in the church of Our Lady of Grace, in the area of Vikaspuri, on January 14. This is confirmed to Agenzia Fides by Fr. Savarimuthu Sankar, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Delhi, adding with amazement that "the three are Sikhs".
The three men arrested are Narender Singh, 33; Michel Pal Singh Gill, 25; Harpreet Singh Dhanjal, 28. The three had been filmed by surveillance cameras when they broke a window, entered the church, breaking statues and damaging vestments. The police managed to trace them thanks to recorded images.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of the Police, Pushpendra Kumar, at the time of the attack the three were under the effects of alcohol and "the destruction was the result of a stupid bet between the three". The three young people are unemployed, resident in the territory where the church is situated and mostly inhabited by Sikhs.
"On the one hand we are pleased with the results of the investigation, but what is most surprising is that the three are Sikhs", notes the spokesman. "In fact, the Sikhs, have good relationships with Christians, there is great respect and friendship, and often the two communities, support, and defend each other", he recalls. "The Sikh leaders have come to us to express solidarity and support after the episode of vandalism". However the political track is not escluded: "With the approach of local elections in Delhi, on 7 February, there may be groups who want to create polarization and disharmony among religious communities. They may have commissioned and paid the three young unemployed for such an attack. We do not want to fall into a trap of this kind. I will ask the Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto to contact the Sikh leaders, with whom we have excellent relations, to issue a joint statement and reiterate the common desire to build and live in peace and harmony", said Fr. Sankar. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/01/2015)