The accused were drunk and they started creating a scene outside the church.
The Bhandup police on Monday morning arrested a 21-year-old youth for allegedly vandalising a glass casket and damaging a statue of St Anthony at St Anthony Church in Tembipada, Bhandup, early on Monday morning. The police have launched a manhunt for the brother of the arrested accused, who was also allegedly involved in the crime.
According to the police, at 1 am on Monday morning, the arrested accused, identified as Paulraj Nadar, accompanied by his brother Dinkaran Nadar, started creating a ruckus outside the church, while allegedly being drunk. "The accused were drunk and they started creating a scene outside the church. When the father of the parish told them to behave and leave the place, Paulraj broke the glass of the statue with his hand," said PR Chavan, senior police inspector from Bhandup police station. He added, "When the matter was reported to us, we immediately tracked Nadar and placed him under arrest."
The Bhandup police said that there was no communal angle to the attack and it was an old personal enmity which caused the incident. "A month ago, the brother of the accused was beaten up by a few locals. After getting drunk on Sunday night, they came to pick up a fight. When a few people gathered around, they in a fit of anger broke the glass of the statue," said Sr PI Chavan.
Father B Arputhraj, parish priest of St Anthony Church, said, "There are two statues in the compound. Both facing outwards. One is of St. Anthony and other of Mother Mary. The problem occurred due to a month-old enmity between two groups. They broke the glass of the casket in which St Anthony's statue is and smeared blood on it. They also damaged the statue. The one who did it, his brother was beaten up a month ago by the other group. They are not respected fellows and no one talks to them. He was trying to pick up a quarrel and hence all this happened."
Fr. Nigel Barrett, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Bombay, said, "This was a problem that existed within two groups. A Christian group and a Catholic group. There was no religion issue in this case. Some of them broke the casket of the statue and smeared blood on it, and in the event also ended up hurting themselves."
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