Church attack returned to haunt Mangalore on Thursday night when an unemployed man, in an inebriated state, vandalised St Alphonsa Church near Kankanady Market in the south Karnataka city.
In the third such incident in a fortnight, Shivu Bajal, 24, damaged the grottos of Jesus and Mary.
He also damaged the furniture in the main hall of the church and tried desecrating the altar.
Further damage to the church was prevented when a group of people from the parish apprehended Bajal.
The inebriated man continued his rampage and also tried to assault Shibu, a priest.
Fr Sabastian Chelakappally, the parish priest of the church, told DNA that the intruder entered the sanctuary and started beating the crucifix. He also damaged the statue of the risen lord Jesus.
The holy vestments were found on scattered on the floor.
The police reached the spot and arrested Bajal, who was detained inside the church. Following the incident, the Sri Rama Sene and Bajrang Dal were prompt in dissociating themselves from the attack.
The police ruled out the possibility of the attack being pre-planned.
Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said, “There are no persons with communal intent roaming in Mangalore. Many of them are behind bars and a few under police surveillance.”
“We do not know the motive behind the attack. We will request for at least three-day police custody when he will be produced before the magistrate,” said Singh.
The police said Bajal was a bus conductor, but quit his job three months ago due to health problems.
Condemning the incident, Christian leader said they are reminded of the church attacks in 2008.
Bishop of Belthangady diocese of Malayali Catholics,
Fr Lawrance Mukkuzy, who rushed to the church, said that attack on prayer halls should be stopped. “It is not good for the peace of the society that churches or any other prayer halls belonging to any community is attacked like this,” he said.
On October 13, a group of unidentified persons had attacked the grotto of St Theresa’s High School in Lower Bendoor and Paduva High School under Kadri police station limits. Window panes of both the schools were damaged in the incident.
