Decade-old Delhi church ravaged by fire; parishioners hold candlelight vigil, demand investigation

In the wee hours of Monday morning, frenzied screams of panic pierced the foggy air around a church at Dilshad Garden, Delhi. A massive fire erupted and the police initially claimed that a short circuit caused it. Parishioners, however, suspect foul play.

The season of advent began on a rather grim note for Catholics in and around Dilshad Garden. St Sebastian's church, in the eastern extreme of the national capital, was reduced to ashes, by what parishioners and locals are convinced, is arson. The incident came to light when the security guard on duty went for his tea break, around 6:30am.

Upon catching a whiff of smoke barely 10 minutes later, he returned to his post and saw the entire premises engulfed in flames. He called the parish priest, Fr Anthony Francis, who then called the fire department. The fire brigade arrived shortly, around 7:10am, and the police, at 7:30.

Samples were retrieved from the inside of the church, which was reeking of fuel oil. On the complaint of Fr Francis, the police registered an FIR against unknown persons for causing the fire with malicious intent.

Fr Stanley Kozhichira, media director of Delhi archdiocese expressed his desolation at the extent of the damage. “The destruction has been so extreme,” Fr Kozhichira said, “that the church cannot be used unless it is completely rebuilt.”

The altar, as well as the area where the congregation is seated, was completely destroyed. “Kerosene was poured in the sanctuary area, as well as the back, where there are at least 60 pews. There has been absolute desecration, it's like standing on a funeral pyre,” informed the audibly upset priest.

Before and after pictures of the altar at St. Sebastian's Church. Image credit: Nikita Jacqueline Ekka

Speaking from the site in the evening, Nikita J Ekka, a member of the Delhi archdiocese youth, told dna how the police initially passed it off as an accident. She said: “The cops tried blaming it on a short circuit, but it's a clear case of kerosene being poured around the church. The smell here is palpable.”

Delhi Archbishop Most Rev. Anil Couto said that the incident was condemnable, not just because it was an act of sacrilege and hate against the community and its faith, but that it could happen in the national capital, which is just recovering from a series of communal incidents.

Early in the evening on Monday, a peace protest was organised at Jhilmil Metro Station, close to the area. However, less than 200 people turned up. Later, after the evening mass at 7:30pm, a candlelight vigil was held, which saw at least 3,000 people in attendance.

People gather in a peaceful protest outside the Jhilmil metro station on Monday afternoon. Image credit: Nikita Jacqueline Ekka

Speaking to dna, Jenis Francis, president of the Federation of Catholic Association of Delhi, echoed Ekka's sentiments, saying that the station house officer (SHO) arrived and was dismissive of the incident. He said: “The SHO didn't record any statements of the people present and before we could press for more details, he went away.”

Francis also said that the way the police handled the evidence was disappointing. “The ACP later declared that it was not a short circuit, but indeed, clearly a case of mischief,” said Francis.

Not the first such recent incident

Such an incident of apparent religious intolerance isn't in isolation. On November 30, two house churches in Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh were attacked. Earlier the same month, Catholic priests in the Bastar region in Chhatisgarh were told that all their schools were suppposed to install statues of Goddess Saraswati and that students would not be allowed to address them as “Father”, the usual honorific. Instead, they were to be called “Acharya”.

The road forward

Donning the hat of spokesperson, Francis said that parishoners and concerned citizens are asking for three things: An enquiry committee to be set up by a retired high court judge, complete compensation to be provided for the destruction caused, and the removal of the SHO. “We are planning to submit a memorandum to the commissioner of police on Tuesday morning itself,” he said. The late evening candlelight vigil took place on the main road near Dilshad Colony's Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, and looking at the huge response, Francis was hopeful that action would be prompt. “I appeal to people to preserve the fabric of the country and see what is happening around them. A level of intolerance is developing and this is only getting worse,” he said.