Police to book guilty in Agra church vandalism case under National Security Act

Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday said that stringent Gangster and National Security Acts will be invoked against those found guilty of vandalising the chruch in Agra.

Even as police failed to make any arrest in the case which took place Thursday morning, state Director General of Police (DGP) AK Jain said that several people have been detained for questioning.

"I have directed the SSP, Agra to book those involved in the incident under Gangster Act and also invoke NSA against them. Though no arrest has been made so far in this connection, the police has detained several persons in connection with the case," Jain told PTI.

As a party was going on in the church before it was vandalised, the police is also trying to elicit more information from the waiters deployed there, he added.

St Mary's Church in Cantonment area of Agra was vandalised by some unidentified people in the wee hours yesterday, triggering outrage among the members of the local Christian community.

An FIR has been registered at Rakabganj police station against unknown persons for damaging two statues on the church premises.

The FIR was lodged under IPC 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground for religion, race etc). Meanwhile, Christian community leaders in Agra have demanded firm action against the culprits within 24 hours.