Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung has set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the fire incident at St. Sebastian’s Church in Dilshad Garden. The incident, which took place on Monday, left the altar and the interiors of the Catholic Church completely charred.
Christian leaders have alleged that the accident was a ‘deliberate’ attempt to sabotage peace and targeted violence against a particular community.
“An SIT has been set up to probe the fire at St. Sebastian’s Church at Dilshad Garden. The team will be led by a Joint Commissioner of Police,” a senior Delhi Government official said.
Mr. Jung also met a delegation led by Delhi Archbishop Anil. J. Couto on Tuesday morning and assured them of a time-bound inquiry into the incident.
Delhi Police sources said while Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav would head the SIT, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North- East) R. A. Sanjeev would also be a member, among others.
Sources said the police were awaiting a report from the Delhi Fire Service and one from the Forensic Sciences Laboratory, which reconstructed the scene of crime soon after the incident. “We expect both these reports in about a fortnight and investigation will proceed further only after these have been received,” said a senior police officer.
In their memoranda to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the community leadership pressed its demand for a judicial inquiry by a sitting or retired High Court judge into the Delhi arson against a church.
They also demanded that the hate speeches and targeted violence against the community, its churches, religious priests, pastors and nuns, and its institutions in several States, particularly Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, must stop immediately.
