Tension prevails after fire in church in MP town

Jabalpur, Sep 19 (UNI) Tension prevailed at Sadar area in this cantonment town after unidentified persons set an old church on fire last night, police said today.

Unidentified persons entered the church by breaking its door and tried to set ablaze the church by dousing kerosene.

Anguished over the incident, members of Christian community gathered outside the church in large number and staged road blockade at Polytechnic road for long time during midnight shouting slogans and demanding arresting the culprits.

Meanwhile, some young people vandalised nearby shops. Members of the community continued their meeting till late midnight. All missionary schools and colleges remained today closed as a mark of protest.

Collector Hariranjan Rao, Superintendent of Police Makrand Deoskar and other senior officials reached the spot and assured people that culprits would be arrested.

A delegation of community members will submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' and demand arresting of culprits.

UNI RG-PS 1145