New Dellhi – A large number of policemen today swooped down on activists protesting in the heart of Delhi against attacks on churches, and forced them into buses.
The protest outside the Sacred Heart cathedral in central Delhi was “unlawful”, said the police, who were seen dragging even women and children, leaving bags and shoes scattered on the road. An elderly woman activist, who lay on the road to resist the police, was picked up by four policewomen and bundled into a bus.
A disproportionately large number of policemen were later seen outnumbering protesters outside the church. The commotion caused traffic jams in one of the busiest commercial areas in the capital.
“We have detained people on the road are we are taking them to the police station. They had no permission to protest there,” said senior police officer Mukesh Kumar Meena. But he admitted there were no prohibitory orders in place, reports ndtv.
Activists chanted “We want Justice” and held up posters that said: “Stop violence against Christians.”
Christian groups had announced a silent protest march against recent attacks on churches and said they would march to Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence.
There have been five attacks on churches since December.
In the latest incident earlier this week, the St Alphonsa’s Church in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj was vandalised. The police called it robbery.
A church in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri was vandalized last month. The police said three men caught on camera and arrested were drunk and attacked the church on a dare.
Delhi’s Archbishop Anil JT Couto had said, “a clear pattern of orchestrated attacks is emerging as more and more churches are targeted, vandalised and set on fire.”
The home ministry recently asked for a report on the status of security at religious places.