Agra church attack: Cops track ‘suspicious’ phone numbers

Lucknow: Police in Uttar Pradesh have shortlisted phone numbers that they suspect were used by vandals of a Catholic church in Agra.

The numbers were in use between 2:30 am and 4:30 am on Thursday when some miscreants broke into the St Mary’s Church in Agra’s cantonment area and damaged several statues of Mother Mary and Child Jesus.

Police are also reviewing the possibility of an act of revenge over admissions to missionary schools in the area since admissions to most schools are underway, The Sunday Express reported Sunday.

Police sources said that at least 150 suspicious numbers have been shortlisted and are being tracked after they were found to have been used during the time that the attack is reported to have occurred.

“We are questioning priests of the church and other churches around the area to ascertain if there were any differences with locals regarding admission of their children to missionary schools. We cannot rule out any angle. As of now, we are not pursuing the case on lines of only a religious attack,” said a senior police officer.

Officials said that the assailants had visited the church previously and were well versed with its premises. “The time they chose to commit the act was crucial since it wasn’t day time yet and they knew the priests would wake up only after 4 am for their morning walk and rituals,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Christian religious leaders led by minister Ram Sakal Gurjar met Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav in Lucknow on Saturday seeking the arrest of the accused in Agra church attack and protection to their religious establishments across the state. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is away on foreign tour.

Minister Shivpal Yadav and DGP A K Jain were also present during the meeting in which the SP chief assured religious leaders full safety.

“The Christian leaders demanded action against the accused of Agra Church attack. They also said their religious centers across UP should be provided adequate protection. The church attack is very gruesome as miscreants vandalized the statue of Mother Mary. Mulayam too was moved at their description,” Gurjar said.

Mulayam assured that Christian religious centers will be protected and that the state government will soon arrest the accused. He directed the DGP to ensure that miscreants did not foment communal tension in the state.

“We assured them that SP government is committed to ensure communal harmony in the state and those behind such attack will not be spared,” Gurjar said.