Catholic church vandalized in West Bengal
by Nirmala Carvalho
The altar was moved and smashed to pieces, the tabernacle misplaced. The motive seems to be that of theft. Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), "an action that offends the religious feelings of Christians."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - A gesture that "deeply offends the religious feelings of Christians", comments Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), responding to AsiaNews about yet another act of vandalism against a Catholic church in India.

The St. Thomas of Taherpur (district of Nadia, West Bengal), was vandalized by unknown assailants in the early hours of 9 July. Nothing was stolen, but the tabernacle was found out of place, the altar was torn to pieces and thrown into the yard, and the front door was forced open with a crowbar.

According to police, the dynamics of the attack and the lack of a theft "raise doubts about the nature of this act", but for the moment they are not making any assumptions. The church, among other things, is located in an area with a high population density, but no one heard suspicious noises.

"As president of the GCIC - says Sajan George - I condemn the increasing attacks against the tiny Christian minority, which occur in various states of the country in the strongest terms. The slow pace of the justice encourages the criminals and creates a culture of impunity. Moreover, Therpur is located just 25 kilometers from Ranaghat, where last March an elderly nun suffered a gang rape. "