New Delhi Christian Churches Heighten Security Amid Feared Attacks
Christian churches in New Delhi tightened security measures on Christmas Eve for fear that the previous year's attacks will happen again.
From December 2014 to March 2015, various Christian churches in New Delhi have either been burglarized or torched. A senior police officer said the churches with the tightest security measures in the city are St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Our Lady of Grace Church, and St. Alphonsa's Church, according to New Indian Express.
"All necessary arrangements have been made in and around churches and Christian institutes at other places in the city wherever gatherings are expected before and on Christmas day," the Express quotes Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.
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Police put the Christian churches under round-clock security a few days before Christmas. Security personnel guarding the institutions were being briefed daily by their station house officers, the report details.
In St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Father Anthony Francis saw two armed police officers guarding the institution when he arrived early morning on Christmas Day. The previous year, a mysterious fire engulfed the building and investigations pointed to either random vandalism or faulty electrical wiring. No suspects were arrested in connection with the arson, according to the Telegraph.
Christians in New Delhi think that Hindu nationalists are behind the torching down of chapels the previous Christmas. Father Cyril Patrick from the Church of the Resurrection cited fears over attacks that may be geared toward suppressing Christian belief, the report relays.
Abdul Rasheed Ansari, the spokesman for India's ruling BJP party, said the government is serious about taking action to dissolve the threat. It is worth noting that the BJP is often linked to Hindu nationalist organizations, but the party had denied any involvement in the attacks.
However, there are those who doubt the government's efforts to apprehend the New Delhi church attackers. Father Francis questioned if the police will reveal the identity of the culprits if ever they find out, since they are also under the government.
Meanwhile, Christmas celebrations in New Delhi churches turned out to be successful, despite the initial fears that the attacks will happen again. Father Francis said they cannot keep on entertaining their fears.
