Del Govt appoints SIT to probe fire in church

Delhi Government today appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the mysterious fire at a church here even as the Christian community sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for a judicial probe into the incident as well as "violence" against them in some other states.
Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung constituted an SIT under the leadership of Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav soon after a delegation led by Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto called on him seeking a detailed probe into the fire that gutted St Sebastian's Church in Tahirpur area in northeast Delhi yesterday. The Christians had alleged foul play in the fire.

Despite the assurance, leaders of the community demanded a judicial inquiry in this case and intervention of the Prime Minister.
"In their memorandums to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the community leadership pressed its demand for a Judicial Enquiry by at least a sitting or retired Judge of a High court into the Delhi arson against a church, but also the hate speeches and targeted violence against the community, its churches, religious priests, pastors and nuns, and its institutions in several states, particularly Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh," an official statement said.
The LG assured Couto of zero tolerance against targeted and communal violence in the national capital. He said he was directing the Police Commissioner to see that the investigations into the burning of the church were carried out expeditiously and that all preventive measures were taken. The state government, he said, was deeply concerned about such issues.

Earlier in the morning, scores of members of the Christian community and social activists staged a protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters over alleged police inaction in the case and demanded enhanced security measures for the minority community.
The protesters blocked ITO junction for almost two hours causing massive jams on related routes and disrupting connectivity between East and central Delhi during the morning rush hour.
Later, a delegation of the protesters met city police chief BS Bassi who assured them of a speedy probe in the case. Special Commissioner (Law and Order) Deepak Mishra briefed about the formation of an SIT and the security measures Delhi Police is going to take.