A church in Puducherry in southern India was set ablaze recently, after upper-caste Hfindu neighbours had objected to worship services in the area.

Pastor David Santosham and members of the Bible Presbyterian church in Karaikal District left for home after concluding fasting prayers on May 25.

At around ten past midnight, he received an anonymous call informing him that the church was on ire. “My rented lat is about ive minutes away. I rushed immediately. The church was in lames,” Santosham told World Watch Monitor.

“My daughter called the ire brigade; she passed word to church members also. “[Some who came] complained to the police of strong-smelling gases, suspecting that it could be the cause of the ire, urging them to investigate… My wife and I had taken care to switch of the lights and turn of the electricity supply before we left as usual.”

The church’s roof, made of tar sheets and bamboo supports, was reduced to ashes. Christian literature and musical instruments costing the equivalent of around $4,500 were also burned.

Santosham said that, after ten days of persistent visits to police in local Neravy, they finally lodged a Ffirst Investigation Report (FIR) on June 6, citing section 436 of the Indian Penal Code against “unknown miscreants” for torching the church.

“I submitted my complaint on May 26, but the police [at first] refused to register it,” the pastor said. “I was told if there has to be a FIR in this case, there will also be a counter FIR against me.”

Asked why the delay, Station House Oicer Jerome Jesmond told World Watch Monitor: “Even the ire department could not ascertain the cause of ire. We waited for their report to decide whether to register an FIR.

“As per the preliminary investigation, we suspect some unknown person, but the investigation is still in the initial stage… Pastor Santosham named some suspects, but there is no concrete evidence to prove his allegations.”

Over the past two weeks, the church has gathered in the open air under a tent. “I met the district collector [in charge of local government administration], higher police oicials and the chief minister also; they gave us verbal assurances,” the pastor said. “We left the burnt remains untouched, hoping there will be an investigation, but how can we gather in open-air in this monsoon season?”

(World Watch Monitor)

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