Drug addict held for church theft

A 42-year-old substance abuser has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a theft at a West Delhi Church.

Identified as Harvinder Singh Suri, the accused had committed the theft at St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara Church in Hari Nagar on the intervening night of May 22 and 23, which had triggered much tension along communal lines in the Capital, said a senior police officer.

“During interrogation, the accused disclosed that there was a general view among his group of mischief mongers that they can get easy money by committing thefts at or near religious places by camouflaging as devotees,” said the officer.

“Harvinder conducted a recee of the church during which he made up his mind to target the donation box beneath the statue of Mother Mary located outside the building since this was least risky,” the officer said.

According to the police, Suri entered the church during prayer time disguised as a devotee. At the conclusion of prayers, he hid on the campus, went near the statue, broke the lock of the donation box beneath it, and took the Rs. 200 it contained. The police claimed to have constituted as many as 20 teams to nab Harvinder. The teams zeroed in on Harvinder after multiple raids.

“A resident of Tilak Nagar, who dropped out of school after falling in bad company, Harvinder confessed his guilt and involvement in the incident,” the officer said.