This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Holy Child Auxilium School In South Delhi Vandalized; Police Say Case Of Theft, Not Desecration

Holy Child Auxilium School In South Delhi Vandalized; Police Say Case Of Theft, Not Desecration
ASSOCIATED PRESS

A convent school in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar area was vandalized in the early hours of the morning today by a group of men, prompting chief minister designate Arvind Kejriwal to condemn the act and say that “these kind of acts will not be tolerated."

The police have identified the school as Holy Child Auxilium which has now been shut down and children sent home for the day. This is the sixth such attack on a Christian institution in the last one year, agencies reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi summoned Delhi Police Chief BS Bassi over the incident and ordered strong action on those involved, NDTV reported.

"To us it is not a case of vandalism but theft. No religious item was stolen," The NDTV report quoted Principal Lucy John as saying.

"I strongly condemn the attack on Holy Child Auxilium school. These kind of acts will not be tolerated," Kejriwal, who is due to take oath as Delhi’s chief minister tomorrow at the Ram Lila Maidan, tweeted.

I strongly condemn the attack on Holy Child Auxilium school. These kind of acts will not be tolerated

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 13, 2015

Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi told the Times of India newspaper, the incident is a case of theft.

''Our investigations have revealed that it's a case of theft. The CCTV footages have revealed so too. A probe is on,'' TOI quoted Bassi as saying.

HRD minister Smriti Irani, an alumna of the school, visited the campus this afternoon, the report said.

This is the sixth such attack on Christian institutions in the national capital since November last year. In January, some unidentified groups had vandalised a church in Vasant Kunj sparking outrage among the Christian community which alleged that it is part of a "hate campaign".

After massive protests by Christian groups, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had tightened security around churches and other religious institutions.

The Christian community in Jamshedpur yesterday assembled at St Joseph Welfare Centre and held a silent protest and prayer to condemn the attacks. The Goa Congress also condemned the recent police action in Delhi against Christians who took to streets over attacks on churches, and questioned the silence of state BJP MLAs from the minority community over the issue.

"The police action against the peaceful protesters is condemnable. This clearly indicates the communal psyche of the (Narendra) Modi-led government. The safety of minorities is again in question under the current rule," Goa Congress unit spokesman Sunil Kawthankar told reporters.

Hundreds of Christians had staged a major protest in Delhi on February 5, accusing the government of inaction over recent attacks on churches in the national capital and wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the issue.

Police had later detained over 200 protesters in central Delhi when they tried to march towards the residence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a high security area.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS and TOI)

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.