Protests against Delhi church attacks

At least 200 people, including an AAP leader, were detained Thursday while marching towards Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence here protesting against the attacks on churches in Delhi, police said.

The demonstrators, most of them from the Christian community, gathered at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. They shouted slogans saying "We want justice" and held banners that read "Stop attacking us" and "Peace is all we seek".

Police imposed section 144 which bans assembly of four or more people and barricaded the area leading to the minister's residence on Ashoka Road in central Delhi.

The agitators also demanded a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in all cases of attacks on Delhi churches. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha joined the protesters expressing solidarity.

"I am here in my personal capacity to express solidarity. This is in national interest, not in political interest. If they think that by detaining people they can curtail their voice, well and good," said Chadha.

On Feb 2, a south Delhi church was burgled into and a few sacred items and a DVD player were stolen. Earlier, four other cases, including an alleged arson attack that took place at an east Delhi church Dec 1, were reported.

"We demand justice as no step has been taken for our security by the authorities," David Johnny, 35, a resident of Vasant Vihar, said.