Kathmandu: Unidentified people on April 18 carried out an arson attack on the premises of the Church of Assumption in Kathmandu, the first Catholic place of worship in Nepal.
Earlier, it was reported that it was an incident of fire, thehimalayantimes.com reported.
In a statement, the Catholic Church said two motorcycles and a four-wheeler were completely destroyed in the arson that took place two days after Easter. The church is based at the Dhobighat area of the Nepal capital.
Likewise, the building that houses the priest’s quarters and the church’s western entrance were also affected, the church said, expressing grief over the incident.
The statement expressed the Church’s hope that the government will launch a fair probe into the incident.
Earlier in 2009, two people were killed in a car bomb attack at the same church. Three persons, including a school girl were killed in the attack that also wounded 15 others.
The fire partially damaged priest’s residence and part of the cathedral. No casualties were reported. The incident took place two days after Easter. Police are currently investigating the case.
Vatican Radio quoted cathedral pastor Father Ignatius Rai as saying some unknown persons broke into the church premises around 3 am.
The Catholic Church in Nepal built the Assumption cathedral after the country’s 1991 constitution allowed people to practice any religion without trying to convert others. The church combines Buddhist and Hindu elements in a pagoda-gothic style.