Delinquents break into church, damage property

Amritsar, Sep 14 (UNI) Four to five members of the family of a former employee allegedly broke into a church owned by the Church of North India (CNI) on Court Road here after smashing a window and and damaged the altar, piano, candle stand, podium and a few other important articles.

Police, however, ruled out any communal angle to last night's crime after it was found that the family was staying in a house in the church premises and were indulging in certain ''illegal activities'' including consumption of liquor and gambling and had been warned on a number of occasions.

Father Daniel B Dass, the church priest said that family members of Kartar Singh, a former church employee who passed away a couple of years back, were involved in the crime.

SSP S S Srivastva told UNI today that the matter had been reported by the authorities of Saint Paul Church and the case would be registered at the Civil Lines police station.

He ruled out any ''communal angle'' to the incident.

The priest claimed that the holy cross was also found missing.

''The incident may have been aimed to incite communal violence, but we have identified the alleged culprits and reported the matter to the police'', he said while appealing to his community to remain calm.

Those named by the church management include Balwant Rai, Satpal and Joginder Rai. The police has detained one person suspected to be involved in the incident.

Bishop Samantha Rai of CNI visited the church this morning.

UNI XC-HS RP DS1450